Wounded stars likely to be in Bombers’ lineup Saturday

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This article was published 25/09/2018 (2538 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When they were done Friday night, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers ended an ugly four-game losing streak but they had lost three stars to injury: the CFL’s No. 2 rusher, its No. 3 tackler and a vital dual threat on offence tied for the team lead in receptions.

All three — running back Andrew Harris (lower body), middle linebacker Adam Bighill (upper body) and slotback Nic Demski (upper body) — were back at practice Tuesday, but only Bighill was a full participant. Demski and Harris were joined in the ranks of spectators by wide receiver Darvin Adams, who was sidelined with an undisclosed ailment.

Will they be ready when the Blue Bombers travel to Edmonton for Saturday’s crucial West Division clash at Commonwealth Stadium?

“Yeah, I would always give those guys the benefit of the doubt,” said Winnipeg head coach Mike O’Shea. “I expect all three to be good to go. They haven’t shown me otherwise.”

Bighill, whose 74 tackles trail only Calgary’s Alex Singleton and Montreal’s Henoc Muamba (79 each), left Winnipeg’s 31-14 win over the Alouettes in Week 14 favouring his upper right arm. The arm was in a brace Tuesday.

“You know, I’m feeling good,” said Bighill. “I mean, it’s one of those things where last week was more precautionary…. It’s just good to know everything’s all right.

Bighill also explained why he appeared visibly upset when he walked off the field Friday.

“I just never like coming off the field and not being with my teammates,” he said. “It’s just one of those things where it’s better to be smart than stupid at certain times, you know, and it’s good to know everything’s all right.”

And the arm brace?

“Everything’s very precautionary,” he added. “It’s good to make sure everything is well supported and taken care of but, like I said, everything’s good.”

Harris, whose 1,028 yards trail only Ottawa’s William Powell (1,141) for the rushing lead, has frequently been an observer at practice in recent weeks as the club’s coaching staff pays close attention to the amount of wear and tear inflicted on their best offensive player.

However, if Harris is unable to go, American Timothy Flanders and Canadian Kienan LaFrance will be candidates to fill the starter’s role.

“I don’t necessarily think I have to do anything different,” said LaFrance, who has 90 yards on 24 carries and five receptions for 58 yards in a reserve role in 2018.

“My goal is to play my game every time. I feel if I start straying away from your game, that’s where you get into trouble. First and foremost, I have to execute all my assignments and make sure I play my game and play to my strengths and it’ll be all good.”

Harris and LaFrance share Winnipeg as a hometown but their running styles are very different.

“I see Kienan as a guy who can do a lot of things in his own way,” said O’Shea. “He doesn’t have to do it the way Andrew does it. He’s going to do it the way Kienan does it. We signed him for a reason and he’s certainly a guy we feel can play if that’s the way we choose to go. If Andrew’s not healthy, we’ve got options.”

Rookie Daniel Petermann helped fill the void with Demski’s absence but Winnipeg is eager to get their dynamic fourth-year man back. Demski has 189 yards on 26 carries and 412 receiving yards on 44 catches. In recent weeks, he’s also become one of the club’s main punt and kickoff returners.

 

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14