Harris hopeful of return for Leos

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This article was published 04/10/2016 (3293 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Anderew Harris took a bunch of promising steps Tuesday towards getting back into the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ lineup.

The No. 1 running back has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury, but was a full participant in a two-hour workout at Investors Group Field. It was the first time he went through a full workout since he was hurt against Saskatchewan Sept. 10.

“I really, really got out and tested it in live action,” said Harris, who worked mostly with the second-team offence. “We had the pads on today. You can cut with no one around you, but when you got guys trying to tackle you and hitting you, that’s when it’s a real test. It felt good today and we’ll see how it responds tomorrow.”

Head coach Mike O’Shea said Harris will undergo further evaluation today, and even if Harris appears healthy enough to play against his former team, the B.C. Lions (9-4), Saturday afternoon at IGF, the Bombers (8-6) likely won’t announce their decision until close to game time. Harris played six seasons in orange before signing with the Bombers as a free agent in February.

“This is definitely one that’s been circled on the calendar since the beginning of the season,” he said. “But I want to be smart about it. We’ve got a lot more games left to play and more important games, too.”

When he’s been in the lineup, Harris has been a big part of the offence. The 29-year-old was leading the league in rushing before his injury, and currently remains third with 677 yards on the ground and four rushing touchdowns. He also has 44 receptions for 381 yards.

The impact of losing Harris has been softened somewhat by the emergence of Timothy Flanders, who has averaged close to 100 yards rushing and scored a touchdown in each of his first two games. Flanders saw his ground-game production drop to 12 carries for 65 yards in a loss to Edmonton Friday. He did, however, catch five passes for 63 yards, giving him a three-game total of 15 catches for 145 yards.

ON THE MEND: Other players on the mend who didn’t practice Tuesday were linebacker Ian Wild, who O’Shea said should be good to go Saturday, defensive back Teague Sherman and running back Pascal Lochard, both of whom are listed as questionable.

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NEED FOR SIZE AT WR?: In a surprising move Monday, the Toronto Argonauts cut four import receivers — Kevin Elliott, Tori Gurley, Vidal Hazelton and Phil Bates — all of whom have proven they can be contributors in the CFL. They’re also all big bodies, with an average height of 6-3 and weight of 215 pounds.

With Darvin Adams, the team’s biggest receiver at 6-2, 198 pounds not expected to return to the lineup for another few weeks, O’Shea was asked if the Bombers were interested in acquiring the new free agents.

“I’m sure (general manager) Kyle (Walters) and his department are combing through the film and taking a look,” said O’Shea, adding, “I think our guys have been pretty damn good.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

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.