Leggett itchin’ for some game action

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This article was published 18/06/2018 (2648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Maurice Leggett’s long-awaited return to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ lineup is tantalizingly close.

If you ask the 31-year-old linebacker/defensive back, he was ready weeks ago, having successfully rehabilitated the surgically repaired Achilles tendon in his right leg. The Blue Bombers, meanwhile, have applied an ultra-cautious approach to their star defender’s playing status ever since he suffered the injury on an innocent-looking play on Oct. 14.

“His role has increased in practice,” said Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea after Monday’s practice at Investors Group Field. “Obviously, you temper that with the idea he missed all of training camp and there’s always some catching up to do. So we’ll see as the week goes on where Mo ends up. But yeah, he does look good.”

The 0-1 Blue Bombers will face the 0-1 Alouettes in Montreal on Friday night and Leggett is planning to be an active participant. His ball-hawking abilities have led to 16 interceptions, six forced fumbles and 11 sacks in 63 CFL games.

“I expect to give everything I’ve got,” said Leggett, who hinted he was back to full strength and mobility at the time of the club’s mini-camp in spring. “It’s up to the coaching staff to see if I’m ready or not. I’m just trying to help the team build on what we’ve got.”

Leggett has credited his fiancée Christin Price, an exercise physiologist, and the club’s head athletic therapist, Al Couture, for being instrumental in his speedy recovery from the sort of injury once considered career-threatening for a football player.

“It’s a roller-coaster with injuries, always,” said Leggett. “But I just give everything I have and keep working, helping my teammates as much as I can and then help myself as much as I can.”

Were there any roadblocks along the way?

“There were no setbacks,” said Leggett. “We’re just being cautious and we’ve spoken about it and it was a short week (last week) as well. So we just talked to each other and felt like it was the best decision.”

Once Leggett returns, the question is where? Does he supplant current dime linebacker Chandler Fenner or move into the secondary?

“I’m comfortable wherever I am,” said Leggett. “I prepare myself as if I’m playing defensive line and it’s just the way I prepare myself. I feel comfortable wherever they put me.”

Naturally, O’Shea wasn’t giving anything away.

“There’s a lot of versatility and flexibilty in our roster, so, yeah, Mo’s a guy who can play a bunch of different positions,” he said.

NOTEWORTHY: running back Andrew Harris, linebackers Adam Bighill and Jovan Santos-Knox, defensive lineman Craig Roh and offensive lineman Sukh Chungh were starters who were not full particpants in practice. O’Shea said all five were maintainence situations and he expected each of them to be ready for Friday’s game in Montreal… Last week, running back Timothy Flanders (lower body) was placed on the six-game injured list, which also includes quarterback Matt Nichols.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14