Dressler, Leggett definite maybes for Blue Bombers Friday in Ottawa

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/07/2017 (2969 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers could be missing one key veteran and welcoming another back when they return to the field in Ottawa Friday night against the Redblacks (6 p.m., TSN, CJOB).

Veteran slotback Weston Dressler, who apparently suffered a lower-body injury when he was pulled down with a horse-collar tackle in Thursday’s 41-40 win over the Montreal Alouettes, was not a full participant in practice Monday and his status is uncertain.

“We’ll give him another day or two,” Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said. “We’ll wait until the last possible minute to make a decision.”

Meanwhile, strong-side linebacker Mo Leggett returned to the practice field Monday. He has played three of the club’s five games thus far and missed most of training camp with an injury.

“It always feels good to come back out there and play with your teammates,” said Leggett, who has been sidelined for Winnipeg’s last two games with a lower-body injury. “Very tough, very tough (watching). You have a different perspective and you see different things you wouldn’t normally see from being on the sideline.”

Leggett’s spot was taken by rookie Brandon Alexander against the Alouettes. Alexander was a huge factor in the game on special teams, recovering a short kick in the final minute of the game to set up Winnipeg’s winning score. The newcomer, who has also been slotted in a number of roles in the secondary this season, watched Monday’s practice from the sidelines with a brace on his right knee, but O’Shea expects him to suit up Friday.

Weak-side linebacker Kyle Knox is already filling in for veteran Ian Wild, who is on the club’s six-game injury list.

Leggett was asked if he’s impressed with the depth of the current team, which is using a number of in experienced players in starting roles.

“It helps,” said Leggett, whose most recent ailment was not related to the injury he suffered on Day 1 of training camp. “And we have a lot of younger guys now in there. The veterans, we have to actually have to help them and coach them. We can’t just be a player, we have to be a coach, too.”

BEWARE OF THE CHAMPS: The Ottawa Redblacks are off to a 1-4-1 start but Blue Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols is very wary of the defending Grey Cup champions.

“Any time you play them it’s going to be a tough game,” said Nichols. “They’ve been a great team the last couple of years and they’re no different this year. I mean… their record is not (indicative) of what kind of team they have there — it’s a very, very talented football team. They have guys who know how to win and have won a championship and been there the last couple of years.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14