Joining Bombers a ‘no-brainer’

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/10/2022 (1051 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When the Hamilton Tiger-Cats cut Desmond Lawrence at the beginning of the month, he knew he’d find work elsewhere.

The second-year defensive back just didn’t think it would be in Winnipeg.

“I actually expected someone like Ottawa to call because of the relationship I have with Burkie (Redblacks general manager Shawn Burke, Hamilton’s former senior director of player personnel). Or I thought Saskatchewan because Hamilton was playing Sask that week so I figured they’d want some insider information,” Lawrence told the Free Press after Tuesday’s practice at IG Field.

“But Winnipeg called me, and it was the first call I got, and as soon as they called, I was like ‘Hell yeah.’ Like I was definitely going to come. That was a no-brainer.”

Lawrence was released on Oct. 1 and signed to Winnipeg’s practice roster on Oct. 5. The 27-year-old from the University of North Carolina had a bit of a fall from grace as Hamilton named him their Most Outstanding Rookie in 2021. This season, Lawrence struggled to build off that as he only dressed in five games. Hamilton released him in order to make room for a pair of rookie American defensive backs in Tony Collier and Caesar Williams.

Prior to joining the Ticats in 2021, Lawrence spent some time in the NFL, AAF, and XFL.

“It was definitely humbling this year. I came in injured, I didn’t get to play in training camp at all. Like I didn’t have any days in training camp where I was able to play. I was just kind of rehabbing my shoulder and other guys stepped up,” said Lawrence.

“There was a lot of pieces there, so, it was kind of hard to get on the field… I think that’s kind of where it was. It was more of an experience thing. I’m happy for the year and a half or whatever I had there. But I’m really just looking forward to being here and going on this playoff run.”

Lawrence gives the Bombers some depth in the secondary at a time where they need it. Demerio Houston returned to practice this week and is no longer listed on the injury report, but wasn’t working with the starters and wasn’t made available to speak with the media on Tuesday. With Nick Taylor out for the season and Houston’s status currently unknown, a piece like Lawrence that has some experience could pay dividends.

Lawrence started at corner in Week 19 when the Bombers fell 40-32 to the B.C. Lions. The two sides meet again on Friday at IG Field to close out the regular season.

“I think he’s a really smart player. You talk to him about plays and he has a great recall of exactly how things happened, what he would’ve done differently, like he communicates extremely well,” head coach Mike O’Shea said.

“Not only post-play, but before the play. Standing out there in practice and listening to him, he’s always talking to his halfback and making sure they’re on the same page. Yeah, I think he’s done well. He’s good.”

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Kolankowski update… or lack thereof

Reliable offensive lineman Chris Kolankowski left Week 19’s game late with a knee injury and hasn’t participated in practice this week. O’Shea was asked if he could provide an update on Kolankowski’s injury but declined to do so.

After taking Monday off, left tackle Stanley Bryant was back practising on Tuesday. Receiver Nic Demski (calf) and Jackson Jeffcoat (hip) were sidelined.

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.