Opportunity knocks for O’Leary-Orange

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This article was published 13/09/2022 (1154 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Another week, another injury to a Winnipeg Blue Bombers wide receiver.

Drew Wolitarsky is the latest pass catcher to go down for the Blue and Gold as he was helped to the dressing room in the second quarter of Saturday’s Banjo Bowl.

Wolitarsky was a spectator at Tuesday’s practice at IG Field and had a large brace on his left knee.

Assuming Wolitarsky misses Saturday’s tilt at Tim Hortons Field against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-9), that would make Dalton Schoen and Rasheed Bailey the only receivers to avoid injury this season.

When will the injuries stop?

“Hopefully this weekend,” said Bombers receiver Nic Demski after Tuesday’s practice.

“I’m hoping everyone can stay healthy. Rasheed just did a nice little breakdown for us and just said to take every moment in like it’s your last because you don’t know when. Hopefully that just puts the message in all of our minds to keep taking care of our bodies, keep taking care of our minds, and be healthy for the rest of the season.”

Canadian receiver Brendan O’Leary-Orange stepped up in Wolitarsky’s absence and caught a crucial touchdown at the end of the third quarter to give the Bombers a comfortable 37-20 lead. It was the first CFL touchdown of O’Leary-Orange’s career.

“It kind of just felt like a blur. It’s an amazing feeling to get in the end zone,” said O’Leary-Orange, a second-year player out of the University of Nevada.

“It’s been a minute since that happened. But it was just a great moment to celebrate with your teammates.”

O’Leary-Orange will likely see his role increase. He only has five catches this year for 55 yards in seven games as he spent a chunk of the season on the six-game injured list.

“He’s committed. He wants to get better. He had a long journey, with a lot of ups and downs with his hamstring. Last year there were some injuries going on with him as well,” said Demski.

“Hopefully he’s good to last the rest of this year and he showed some flashes earlier on and now he just scored his first touchdown so hopefully he can just keep improving.”

The son of Doyle Orange — an East Division all-star running back with the Toronto Argonauts in 1975 — finished the Banjo Bowl with two catches on five targets for 33 yards.

“You just try to be ready. At any point in time, you always stay ready and you prepare like you are the player at all five receiver positions,” said O’Leary-Orange.

“That’s what my dad has always taught me and the coaches here definitely embrace it.”

 

COLLAROS AND JEFFERSON NAMED WEEK 14 TOP PERFORMERS

Quarterback Zach Collaros and defensive end Willie Jefferson have been named two of the CFL’s three Top Performers for Week 14.

Argos receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. was the other player to earn the nod.

Collaros shredded his former team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, for 272 passing yards and four touchdowns while completing 84 per cent of his passes. Collaros connected with seven different receivers and now leads the league with 26 touchdown passes.

Jefferson shined with three tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble.

 

INJURY UPDATE

Bombers centre Michael Couture, who hasn’t played since Week 2 because of a broken arm, worked with the starters at Tuesday’s practice. Left tackle Stanley Bryant wasn’t in uniform but Mike O’Shea said it was a maintenance day.

Backup defensive back Noah Hallett played his first game of the season on Saturday but left with a knee injury. O’Shea wouldn’t give an update on Hallett but the young Canadian defender was at Tuesday’s practice in street clothes.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31