Injury may give Foketi his chance

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This article was published 21/08/2018 (2623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The now familiar pattern was established in 2017 and has continued through the first nine games of the 2018 CFL regular season.

American offensive lineman Manase Foketi is routinely named to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 46-man roster before being one of the two players deleted prior to game day, bringing Winnipeg’s roster down to the league-mandated 44-man limit. He earns a game cheque but no playing time.

That could all change Saturday afternoon in Calgary when the Blue Bombers (5-4, third in West) take on the Stampeders (7-1, first in West).

A knee injury suffered by veteran right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick could open the door for the 27-year-old Foketi, who dressed and started three games during his rookie season in 2016.

“We’ll see,” said Foketi about his possible return to active duty. “My job is to be prepared if my number is called.”

Hardrick, who was wearing a sizeable brace on his left leg and limping noticeably, did not participate in drills during Tuesday’s practice. He appears unlikely to play Saturday, which would end a streak of 36 consecutive starts.

The rest of Winnipeg’s offensive line has also been amazingly durable with Stanley Bryant (74 consecutive starts), Matthias Goossen (49), Sukh Chungh (27) and Patrick Neufeld (11) given the team enviable continuity up front.

“You saw him out here today, he was running around busting everybody’s chops, making sure he’s putting his two cents in,” said head coach Mike O’Shea of Hardrick. “I don’t know if he’ll be available for this game or not.”

LOOKING OUT FOR NO. 1: the Stampeders are always a difficult opponent but Winnipeg’s task may be more complicated this weekend with Calgary coming off its first loss of 2018.

“I have 30-something wins in my career and I’m pretty sure I’ve never actually beaten them. I’ve had a lot of opportunities to — come down to the final minute, I’ve missed game-winning field goals against them, I’ve had game-winning field goals made against me… they’re a very tough team to beat, especially there,” Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols said.

“I expect… it’ll be a four-quarter game. I think it’ll come down to who has the ball last, whoever makes the play at the end of the game type of a game. We’re coming in there with everything we’ve got trying to get a win.”

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Nichols stressed the importance of winning at McMahon Stadium.

“This is our big game right now,” Nichols said.

“I hate using the term must-win, because obviously life goes on if you don’t, but at the same time, that’s kinda the feeling. It’s a game where you want to go in and throw everything you have at them.”

WHAT ABOUT FENNER? Chandler Fenner started the season as Winnipeg’s starting SAM linebacker, but an injury and then the return of Maurice Leggett has limited his playing time lately.

“Moe Leggett’s playing pretty well. Definitely Chandler Fenner’s a guy we’ve got to get on the field,” O’Shea said. “Somehow we’ve got to figure out a way to get him out there, because he’s a very dynamic player. We signed him for that reason. Unfortunately he missed a few games, and we get into a position where our defence is growing and playing well. It makes it tough, obviously, for him. But he’s a good pro. He’s killing it on special teams. And we’ve got to figure out a way to get him on the field.”mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14