Bombers’ Harris remains sidelined; status against Stamps uncertain

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Andrew Harris missed a third straight practice on Thursday, but coach Mike O’Shea hasn’t ruled him out for Saturday’s game in Calgary against the Stampeders.

“All these guys, you develop a level of trust with them and you give them every opportunity you can,” said O’Shea. “You give them the most amount of time you can for them to be able to compete on game day. And I’ve got no problem with that.”

Also missing from practice this week was linebacker Ian Wild and Quincy McDuffie, with McDuffie practising Wednesday but absent the other two days. Receiver Ryan Smith missed practice Tuesday but has been on the field the past two days and on Thursday was working with the first-team offence.

“No, I can’t lock him in,” O’Shea said on Smith, who missed last week with a thumb injury. “I’ve got to talk to (athletic therapist) Al (Couture) and see where things end up.”

Harris, who was ruled out an hour before last week’s tilt against the Toronto Argonauts after suffering a lower-body injury during the Banjo Bowl against Saskatchewan the week before, looks to be another game-time decision this week.

If Harris can’t go, the Bombers will turn once again to Timothy Flanders. Flanders filled in well against Toronto, finishing the game with 19 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown, while also adding four catches for 34 yards.

“He’s a guy we’ve liked all along,” said O’Shea. “Every time he’s been in there, every opportunity he’s gotten he’s made pretty good on.”

T.J. Heath, who was acquired in last week’s trade that sent quarterback Drew Willy to Toronto, will make his debut with the Blue and Gold this week backing up in the defensive secondary. Heath has five interceptions this season, just one behind Bombers linebacker Maurice Leggett for the league lead.

The Bombers and Stampeders both head into Saturday’s tilt with winning streaks on the line. In fact, the Bombers (8-4), who have won seven straight, and Calgary (10-1-1), with nine consecutive wins, are the longest combined winning streaks between two teams ever to play in the Canadian Football League.

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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