Oliveira bounces down depth chart

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This article was published 20/06/2024 (539 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brady Oliveira’s name is on the depth chart for Friday night’s tilt against the visiting B.C. Lions.

It’s just not where you’d expect it to be.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers star is listed as the No. 2 running back behind Johnny Augustine.

Oliveira, last season’s runner-up for the league’s Most Outstanding Player award, hasn’t practised since aggravating a knee injury in Week 1’s loss to the Montreal Alouettes. He initially injured himself during the offseason and missed all of training camp because of it.

“Osh made that decision, so, if that’s what’s best for the team, that’s what’s best for the team,” said Oliveira after Thursday’s walk-through.

“I’m a competitor, man. I’ve been the starter the last two years here and I’ve earned that. I don’t make those decisions, though. But I’m excited, ready to go, I’m fired up. I really just want to go in there and help this team win a game and I know I can do that.”

Oliveira ran 11 times for 38 yards against the Als. Augustine’s usage in Ottawa last week was minimal with seven carries for 31 yards and a touchdown.

For head coach Mike O’Shea, it all boiled down to Oliveira’s very limited time on the field.

“We did put him in that Week 1 game, and it didn’t look the way Brady wanted it to look and it certainly didn’t look the way we wanted it to look,” said O’Shea.

“So, we’re taking a different approach this week. We’re trying to ease him into it. And the second part of that is Johnny has carried the load all through training camp. He’s taken all the reps and deserves a chance to step out there and do more.”

O’Shea said Oliveira will still factor into the gameplan Friday to some extent. But if it were up to Oliveira, the training wheels would be taken off even though he’s only been a full participant at one practice all year.

“I’m not worried about my play. I know what level I can get to, and I know there’s even more for me to reach. Obviously, with the running back position you gotta get into a rhythm and a groove. That’s what training camp is for, it’s perfect to knock the rust off, to get your eyes right, get your feet right. I think it will take a couple games to get me into a rhythm, but I think my couple games to get into a rhythm might be better than others,” said Oliveira.

Last week snapped a run of 37 consecutive starts for the 26-year-old from Winnipeg. Oliveira was asked if he now feels 100 per cent.

“Yeah, I feel good. If it was up to me, (I’d be starting). I’m ready to go and good to go,” he said.

Whether it’s Augustine or Oliveira taking handoffs, the Bombers need to be better on the ground. The Bombers topped the league in rushing in 2023 but are ranked seventh after two games.

“I mean, look, everyone’s doing their job,” said Augustine.

“At the end of the day, it’s going to come. I don’t look at the statistics, everything’s going to take care of itself. We have a f—king amazing coaching staff that’s going to put everybody in the best position.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

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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.

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