Bombers trade for familiar face

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This article was published 04/10/2022 (1122 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Blue Bombers general manager Kyle Walters isn’t afraid to fill a need at the CFL trade deadline.

He did it in 2019, in what will go down as one of the greatest trades in franchise history, when Walters sent a draft pick to the Toronto Argonauts for quarterback Zach Collaros one minute before the deadline.

In 2021, Walters solved the team’s kicking woes by bringing in all-star kicker Sergio Castillo in a deal with the B.C. Lions a week before the cutoff date.

The Bombers don’t win the Grey Cup in either of those seasons without those moves, and Walters is hoping his latest deal will have a similar impact.

On the eve of this season’s trade deadline, Walters went out and acquired a familiar face Tuesday morning. The Bombers shipped American defensive end Cedric Wilcots II to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for American defensive back Alden Darby Jr.

It’s the second time the Blue Bombers have traded for Darby in as many years as they acquired him during training camp last year in a deal with the Argos for offensive lineman Terry Poole. Darby went on to start 11 games for the Bombers, including the West Division final and Grey Cup, and made 34 tackles en route to being named a division all-star. Darby signed with the Ticats this past offseason.

Wilcots II, a 25-year-old rookie, registered two defensive tackles in 10 games this season.

“Certainly, you hate losing a piece like Ced. He’s a good football player. He’s been with us all year. But that’s exactly who they wanted,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea after Tuesday’s practice at IG Field.

“So, to get Alden Darby back, it’s a guy that we know, that knows what we do, that we’ve won with. That kind of veteran presence. A good communicator, a good football player, who’s very, very versatile. Certainly, it helps us right now with our depth. We got to make sure we restock that.”

Darby was travelling on Tuesday and is expected to be at Wednesday’s practice as the Bombers (13-2) prepare to host the Edmonton Elks (4-11) on Saturday. Darby, a 30-year-old in his fifth CFL season, registered 23 tackles, one interception, and one sack in his 10 games with the Ticats.

With Demerio Houston on the six-game injured list, and with O’Shea confirming on Tuesday that Nick Taylor is out for the year with an Achilles injury, the Blue and Gold needed to make a move to bolster their secondary.

Dimeback Donald Rutledge Jr. left last week’s 31-13 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but was a full participant on Tuesday.

“We weren’t just gonna bring in anybody. We needed to bring in a vet. So, that’s the one that made sense,” said O’Shea.

Darby played dimeback for the Bombers in 2021, but with Rutledge holding down that spot, the vet will likely replace Evan Holm at halfback or Jamal Parker at corner. Holm and Parker, both rookies, hauled in their first career interceptions last week, but have been getting targeted by opposing offences.

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“Those were the guys calling me during the bye week (after losing 48-31 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Week 15) and asking how they can get better and get these things done,” said safety Brandon Alexander. “Blessings to them because it showed on the field that day (against the Riders). Evan Holm got a pick and then Jamal Parker got one. The two main guys on the field side, it gave them even more confidence and they were in the right place all week. They’re just gonna keep building and going on from there.”

While Alexander likes how Holm and Parker have progressed, he’s excited to welcome Darby back into the fold.

“He’s a familiar guy. We know him very well. He’s a great communicator out there,” Alexander said. “He’s been in the league for a while so he’s seen a lot. And then just his voice and his presence will be big. I don’t know exactly where he will be fitting in at right now, but he’s already a fit in guy in terms of how he approaches the game. He’s my friend and it’s good to hear we got him back.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.