Bombers DB Houston aims for major comeback after minor setback

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This article was published 31/05/2023 (850 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers expected American defensive back Tyquwan Glass to be an important piece of their secondary in 2022.

Three weeks into the year, however, Glass was cut, largely in part to the emergence of Demerio Houston.

Houston, a practice-squad player the year before who only saw action in four games, showed promise at boundary corner and the team decided to roll with him.

It proved to be a wise decision as the Shelby, N.C., resident played at a high level, and made one of the biggest plays of the season in Week 6 with a game-winning interception at home against the Calgary Stampeders off a Kamar Jorden bobble.

It was a much different result five weeks later in a rematch with the Stamps. Houston suffered an injury and was never able to return to the lineup. He was healthy for the post-season, but at that time, his services weren’t needed. The Bombers signed former Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive back Desmond Lawrence midway through the year and never looked back

“I was very disappointed. I felt I came into my role, got an opportunity and took full advantage of it,” said Houston. “And then with the injury, it was a setback for me. It was definitely a bad feeling, but like I always say, a minor setback for a major comeback.”

To regain his starting role, Houston will likely have to beat out veteran Winston Rose for the job. Rose is coming off a disappointing 2022 and is currently battling an injury. Assuming he plays, Houston could have a lot on the line in Friday’s pre-season finale against the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Houston, 26, had 27 tackles and two interceptions in nine starts last year.

“I feel like I bring a lot. I have good abilities where if the coaches need me, wherever they need to play me, I’m available,” said Houston. “That’s my goal for this season, to start Week 1. If not, wherever they need me, special teams, or whatever my role is, I’m just gonna do it at 110 per cent.”

Grant taken off suspended list

Kick returner Janarion Grant was activated from the suspended list on Wednesday.

The franchise’s all-time leader in return touchdowns was back on the field with teammates participating in a limited role. When the move was made two weeks ago, O’Shea said it wasn’t for disciplinary reasons, it was to give Grant time to address a personal matter.

Grant was not made available to speak with the media.

Neither was running back Brady Oliveira, who was also back in a limited role. Oliveira had been sidelined since the second day of training camp due to an undisclosed injury.

Adamson starting to adjust

No one has had to make a bigger adjustment in training camp than former University of Manitoba Bisons defensive tackle Cole Adamson.

The 24-year-old, who is coming off of his fifth and final season with the Herd, has been converted to an offensive lineman.

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It’s a position Adamson, a fourth round pick in the 2022 CFL Draft, had never played before until rookie camp began three weeks ago.

“Yeah, it’s a tough ask. He’s certainly gotten a lot better through camp. The first couple days were a little adventurous for him, I’d say. But he’s stuck with it,” said O’Shea.

“That transition is very difficult and to be willing to see it through is not easy. He just kept coming to work every day and improving, improving, improving so we’ll see where that goes.”

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.