Injury bug takes another bite of Blue
Four regulars to be sidelined multiple weeks as Winnipeg preps for trek to Edmonton
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/07/2016 (3365 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
BLACK AND BLUE
When it rains, it pours for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Already hit with a bad case of the injury bug, head coach Mike O’Shea delivered some more bad news after Sunday’s team workout, adding to the number of players expected to be out of the lineup for the coming weeks.

On the list were four of the five players forced to leave Thursday’s 33-18 loss to the Calgary Stampeders, including offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld (expected to miss six weeks with an ankle injury), cornerback Chris Randle (three weeks), and safety Macho Harris and defensive back Julian Posey (two weeks each).
Offensive lineman Sukh Chungh and Jermarcus Hardrick, receiver Jace Davis, and linebackers Maurice Leggett and Garrett Waggoner also missed practice Sunday, but O’Shea said he expected them to be back in the lineup in time for Thursday’s game in Edmonton against the defending Grey Cup champion Eskimos.
ON THE MEND
O’Shea also provided an update on injured receiver Ryan Smith, saying he expects Smith (who is out with an undisclosed injury) to miss another couple of weeks. Smith attended practice Sunday, which is a good sign, but was limited to being a spectator for drills. O’Shea added Johnny Adams, who hasn’t practised since the second day of training camp, was also close to a return, but is doubtful for Thursday.
In other injury news, offensive lineman Jeff Keeping, who was injured during the pre-season opener against Montreal, was seen jogging lightly but still has a noticeable limp and is likely out for another couple of weeks.
BACK AT IT
It wasn’t all bad news Sunday, as some players actually made a return to the field.
Most notable of the group was halfback Bruce Johnson. Johnson injured his hand in Week 2 and has missed the last three games. If he can play, he should add some stability to a battered secondary.
“I should be back this week,” said Johnson. “That’s my mindset. Right now, it’s not 100 per cent… but we’ll see at the end of the week.”
Also in that group are receivers Addison Richards (broken hand) and Kris Adams (undisclosed), both of whom started the season on the six-game injured list.
Linebackers Sam Hurl — who O’Shea said should be good to go this week — and Kyle Knox, who is likely still out another week, also made their return to practice Sunday.
GOING TO WORK
Running back Andrew Harris, who was part of the 2011 B.C. Lions team that rebounded from a 0-5 start to win the Grey Cup, was asked if there was a difference between that team and the Bombers, who currently sit at 1-4.
“There is no difference,” said Harris. “When you lose, you lose. It’s just about how you respond to it. You can’t hang your head whether you lose a game or win a game, you have to come back to work just as hard. You have to go to work and set by example.”
Harris said there were some similarities, including a number of injuries. He said that forced Lions players into new roles, which in turn created a spark for the team.
“Sometimes, that sparks people and give them that extra little jump to make plays,” he said. “With injuries and with the things that are going on right now, that is definitely happening with this team and, hopefully, we can get a spark in some way or fashion.”
jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer
Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.
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