All-star receiver Schoen to miss Elks tilt

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This article was published 19/10/2023 (726 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be without all-star receiver Dalton Schoen for their pivotal game against the visiting Edmonton Elks Saturday night.

Schoen, who suffered an ankle injury in a Week 18 win over the B.C. Lions back on Oct. 6, has officially been ruled out of action after missing all three practices this week. The Bombers will certainly miss Schoen’s skill out there as they seek a victory against the Elks that would also seal the West Division for a third straight year.

“Dalton has been one of the best in the league the last two years — and he’s only been here two,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said. “Everyone in our room has the ability to help us win football games. Whatever our lineup looks like, it will be good.”

Schoen, who was seen around IG Field wearing a walking boot, enters the weekend leading all receivers in touchdowns, with 10, and his 1,222 receiving yards is third most in the CFL. While the seriousness of the injury hasn’t been disclosed, several teammates in the locker room noted it was Schoen’s first serious injury, putting his availability for next week’s season finale and playoffs in question.

“It’s hard. People don’t really understand how much work we all put in. He puts in a lot,” said fellow receiver Rasheed Bailey, adding Schoen is around the team and has been very active in helping prepare for the Elks. “He’s been a hard worker since he got here and now it’s time for guys to step up. I don’t know everything about the situation, but he will be missed.”

With Schoen out, Brendan O’Leary-Orange will take over his starting role on offence. Greg McCrae is also expected to be added to the game-day roster after spending the last few weeks on the practice team.

“He’s an all-star receiver who puts up numbers every week, so he’s obviously going to be missed,” said running back Brady Oliveira. “Someone has got to step up and make those plays when it comes their way. It’s the time of year we should be primed up now and I’m excited to see who steps up. All the boys in the locker room this week, the receivers group, is going to step up. You’re going to see everyone touch the ball.”

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Jeff Hamilton
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Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

Every piece of reporting Jeff 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.