Matthews ready, raring to play against Argos Thursday

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This article was published 29/07/2019 (2231 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GUELPH, Ont. — Blue Bombers wide receiver Chris Matthews was happy to rejoin his teammates on the practice field Monday morning.

But he was not pleased to be asked about reports he was stabbed during a disturbance at La Roca, a downtown Winnipeg eatery and nightclub just over a week ago, was treated in hospital for a minor injury and released.

“I don’t want to speak on that,” he said following practice at Alumni Stadium on the campus of the University of Guelph. “If there is anything else about being on the field, practice, games or anything like that, I’m more than welcome to answer that. But anything else, I’m not really trying to answer those questions.”

The Winnipeg Police Service said media suggestions about the incident were overblown. No charges were laid in the incident.

Matthews, who was recovering from an unrelated finger injury at the time, was sidelined for the club’s 23-15 loss to the Tiger-Cats Friday night and has played in only two of Winnipeg’s six games this season. He rejoined the team on the road after the loss in Hamilton.

The 29-year-old native of Long Beach, Calif., one of the club’s major off-season free-agent additions, has only three receptions for 26 yards this season.

Matthews’ mood brightened considerably when asked about the likelihood he will be in Winnipeg’s lineup when the team plays the winless Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field Thursday night.

Receivers Drew Wolitarsky (lower body) and Darvin Adams (lower body) left the game in Hamilton with injuries and did not return. Both players did not practise Monday and their status is uncertain, although head coach Mike O’Shea sounded more hopeful about Wolitarsky’s chances of playing. Lucky Whitehead was also a spectator for most of practice but appears likely to be ready for Toronto.

“I can’t wait to get on the field,” said Matthews. “I’ve really only played a game-and-a-half, really. I’m happy just to get the opportunity to get on the field and give it all I’ve got.”

Matthews said fitness will not be a factor when he finally returns.

“I’ve been out for two weeks, so I’ve got no choice but to be fresh,” he said.

“Honestly, if you guys have ever seen us run, I’m always trying to lead the pack. With these guys out here, they’re young and they’re out there running and I want to make sure I’m out at the front pushing myself. If there is ever a day like today, when it was a bit hot and I was already gassed, I wanted to make sure I pushed myself to stay in it. Little things like that, for me personally, is going to help me get over the hump when I get into the game and the bullets are flying and people are tired.”

O’Shea admitted Matthews was healthy enough to play against the Tiger-Cats but the play of newcomer Kenny Lawler had been too strong to remove him from the lineup.

Did the off-field incident factor into his decision to sit the CFL’s 2012 most outstanding rookie?

“No, not at all,” said O’Shea.

Matthews’ ambition is to be a game-breaker for the 5-1 Blue Bombers, who looked unsure of themselves during the loss in Steeltown.

“I want to bring everything,” he said. “I want to pick the level up. I want to be that missing piece that they need to keep on going because we’re already pretty good on offence. I just feel like me personally, I can make it better. It’s not in a selfish way, or anything like that. It’s just how I feel about myself and my game play. Once we all get on the field together, you’ll see. You’ll know why.

“You’ll know why Lucky (Whitehead) is out there and able to run past people and break 60-yarders on screen routes and reverses and short passes and stuff like that — because all of us are out there blocking for each other and I’m a part of that.

“If he has the ball in his hands, I’m going to block for him and help him spring open and get free. Hopefully he can do the same for me.”

Starting quarterback Matt Nichols is thankful for the team’s deep reserve of capable pass-catchers.

“We’ve been talking about it a lot, that our depth is a lot better than it was in the past,” said Nichols. “If you had a guy go down for a week or two, you were scrambling to figure out who was going to play where. Right now, we have a good plan in place for when those things happen, we have the depth that can step right in and continue to get the job done. So, it’s something we’re not worried about. It’s a long season and we expect everyone is going to play a role at some point. So whoever is called upon this week is going to be ready to go.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14