Harris, Leggett expected to play in opener

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This article was published 27/06/2017 (3031 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Winnipeg Blue Bombers will have two integral pieces in their lineup Saturday when they open the 2017 CFL regular season against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at the new Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said following Tuesday’s practice he expects running back Andrew Harris and dime linebacker Maurice Leggett to play against the Riders, putting to rest, at least for now, any doubt they might be sidelined with injuries.

It was the first practice for the Bombers after a three-day break and the first for Harris since pulling up lame midway through last Thursday’s workout.

Harris was in discomfort immediately after the lower-body injury and he left the stadium with a concerned look on his face.

On Tuesday, he was back to his old self, both on and off the field.

“Any time you can’t be out there at 100 per cent with your teammates it’s not a great feeling,” he said. “But we’ve got a great training staff here… I felt great today, flying around, and it’s just good to be back.”

Leggett practised last week for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on Day 1 of training camp.

He was eased into drills early on but was a full participant before long. Leggett said last week that despite missing more than three weeks of practice, he didn’t feel a need to play catch-up with his teammates. Leggett was comfortable with both the personnel and systems the team is trying to achieve.

O’Shea did leave open a small window of uncertainty: “Once again, we’ll see what shape they’re in (at the end of the week),” he said. “Practice is only so many reps; they got to be able to play an entire game.”

Bruce Johnson, one of the Bombers’ projected starters at halfback, is still out with an injured right hand. Though he is doubtful to play Saturday, O’Shea refused to rule him out.

Roc Carmichael, who has impressed ever since he first arrived for April’s mini-camp, was working with the first team and is the likely replacement for Johnson if he can’t play.

‘Poop’ a projected starter

With Sam Hurl likely to start at middle linebacker, the Bombers have turned to Cory “Poop” Johnson as the projected starter at defensive tackle. Johnson, a native of Columbia, S.C., earned the first-team reps Tuesday ahead of non-imports Jake Thomas and Faith Ekakitie, the team’s first-overall pick in May’s CFL draft.

O’Shea described Johnson as “very dynamic,” adding: “He’s a very quick, agile guy for his size. He’s creative in his pass rush and he’s got the ability to bring power, too.

“He carries his weight really well. Watching him in training camp, he’s an exciting player.”

The Bombers, given their ratio needs, were expected to play a Canadian at defensive tackle.

But with Hurl, a native of Calgary, beating out import Kyle Knox at middle linebacker, Winnipeg had some flexibility with their options.

A work in progress

The Bombers feel they have one of their best rosters in years. After an 11-7 season in 2016, Winnipeg dipped into free agency to shore up any perceived weaknesses they might have.

But just a week into the season his team has yet to start, O’Shea wasn’t about to say his players are where he envisions them to be, at least not yet.

“Those kinds of assessments take weeks and weeks and weeks and games and games and games,” he said.

“But you’re always moving forward and we have taken some steps forward, that’s for sure.

“But to say that we’ve grown into ‘the’ team that I would like to see, that the coaching staff would like to see, that’s a ways off.”

Bombers dip into supplemental draft

Winnipeg selected non-import receiver Drew Wolitarsky in the 2017 supplemental draft.

With the pick, the Bombers forfeit a third-round selection in the 2018 CFL draft.

Wolitarsky, 22, played four seasons with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, collecting 130 catches for 1,749 yards and nine touchdowns.

Most of that production — 66 receptions for 869 yards and five touchdowns — came in his senior year, when he was also named team captain.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @jeffkhamilton