Brown won’t play against Eskimos on Friday

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/08/2011 (5557 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are going to be without a big member of their defence when they host the Edmonton Eskimos Friday night.

Defensive tackle Doug Brown, the veteran leader of the CFL’s top-rated defence, will miss his first regular season action since 2009 with a foot injury, both the player and the club confirmed Thursday morning.

brightcove.createExperiences();

Brown said he suffered the injury during last week’s 25-20 win over the B.C. Lions, though the 36-year-old couldn’t quite remember exact details of how or at what point the injury occurred.

“I don’t know if there was so much adrenaline or emotion going on last week — it was kind of a thing where I took my sock off after the game and said, ‘Oh, that doesn’t look (or feel) the way it should,” Brown told reporters after the team walk through at Canad Inns Stadium Thursday.

Brown wouldn’t say what the foot injury is — if it’s a bruise or a fracture or anything like that — but said he was advised by the medical staff to give it the week off.

“It was a hard decision to make and it’s something that doesn’t sit very well with me,” he said about missing a game. “You always want to contribute and this is a critical time for us.”

Winnipeg (4-1), alone in first place in the East division (heading into tonight’s action), is looking to continue its strong start to the 2011 season with a win over the undefeated Eskimos (5-0) Friday night (6:30 p.m., TSN, CJOB).

Brown has only missed three games since the 2006 season.

To make up for the giant gap his absence leaves, the Bombers will feature a rotation in the middle of the defensive line of starter Dorian Smith, Don Oramasionwu, and Bryant Turner — a rookie who the club really likes. Non-import DT Deji Oduwole takes Brown’s spot on the 46-man roster.

Freshly minted defensive player of the month Odell Willis and Fernand Kashama will start at the defensive end positions. Jason Vega (knee) remains on the injured list.

Winnipeg head coach Paul LaPolice said Brown will find a spot on the sidelines to assist the D-line in a coaching capacity.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to the CASL agreement.

“He’ll be there to help the guys in some type of role off the field and calm them down,” the coach said, adding he was not willing to speculate on the seriousness of Brown’s foot injury and the possibility he could miss next week’s contest in Vancouver.

Winnipeg did get some good news on the defensive front. Joe Lobendahn is healthy and draws back into the lineup Friday. The middle linebacker sat out last week’s contest with an ankle injury.

Lobendahn’s return means fellow import KR Perry Floyd comes off the active roster.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive tackle Doug Brown will not play Friday night at Canad Inns Stadium versus the Edmonton Eskimos, the club announced Thursday morning.

Brown has been nursing an unspecified foot injury and has not practised this week. He is sitting on the sidelines again this morning as his teammates practise.