Buck is back, but Poblah out

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This article was published 15/09/2011 (5379 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Injured Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce says he believes he will be the starting quarterback when the Bombers take on the Alouettes in Montreal on Sunday.

Pierce — who injured his ribs in a 45-23 Bombers loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last Sunday — practiced with the Bombers first-team offence at Canad Inns Stadium on Thursday and afterward pronounced himself sore, but fit.

“In my mind, I’m playing. And so I approached practice like I’m playing and preparing like I’m ready to go play,” Pierce told reporters after practice.

“I’m still sore. It’s only been a few days. But I feel better than I felt yesterday. I tried to do everything I could today and throw every ball I’ll throw in the game and continue to push my limits. And I feel good. So if we continue to stay on this course, I should look forward to this weekend.”

Pierce took almost all the first-team reps and appeared sharp with his throws and effortless with his running. “On the field, he moved well and he threw the ball well,” Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice said Thursday afternoon. “He looked good.”

The news wasn’t all good, however. LaPolice announced that an unspecified shoulder injury — also suffered in the Saskatchewan game — will keep rookie receiver Kito Poblah out of the Bombers lineup for at least the next two weeks.

Jade Etienne and Aaron Hargreaves both auditioned during practice for Poblah’s starting job, but with Hargreaves still nursing a sore ankle, Etienne appeared to get the majority of the reps.

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Defensive back Jonathan Hefney (bruised quadricep) didn’t practise again on Thursday, but LaPolice said he likely will on Friday. And slotback Terrence Edwards, who is also nursing a bruised quadricep, took off the second half of practice but is expected back on Friday, LaPolice said.

The Bombers aren’t only ones with injuries, however. Word out of Montreal today is that Als LB Shae Emry (concussion) and DB Dwight Anderson (hip) both remain questionable for Sunday. Montreal head coach Marc Trestman put Anderson’s chances of playing at 50-50.