Winnipeg win comes with slate of injuries

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This article was published 21/09/2018 (2571 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A win to end a four-game losing streak was gratifying but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers may have paid a heavy price for Friday’s 31-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes.

Three of the club’s biggest stars — middle linebacker Adam Bighill, slotback Nic Demski and running back Andrew Harris — left the game with injuries and did not return.

Bighill left the game in the second half favouring his right arm and was replaced by veteran Ian Wild. The difference?

“It was a little shift, honestly,” said cornerback Chris Randle. “We run some things with Biggie in there. He’s a general, he’s a dynamic athlete, he’s on the top of the league in tackles, so with Ian coming in there, not much changed schematically because we know he’s ready and prepared. Just that voice, just that presence, was missed.

“But Ian, he’s a veteran guy and he came in and he made the plays to help us win the game.”

How would the Blue Bombers adapt if the five-time CFL all-star is unable to play?

“We don’t want to, right?” said Randle. “… I don’t know what’s going on but I hope and pray he’s able to play.”

Harris, meanwhile, headed to the sidelines in the first half with a lower-body injury after gaining 44 yards on seven carries and adding a 10-yard touchdown reception. Before leaving, he was able to crack the 1,000-yard rushing barrier for the fourth time in his career.

His replacement, fellow Winnipegger Kienan LaFrance, found some tough running inside but managed 23 yards on eight carries, including a crucial seven-yard scamper for a TD just before halftime.

“You know, any time your teammates go down, it’s never a good moment,” said LaFrance.

“But as the next guy up, you’ve gotta be prepared. I prepare every week the same, whether I’m starting or not starting, so I know what I’m doing when I get into the game.”

Demski also came out of the game in the second half with an upper-body injury, replaced by versatile rookie Canadian Daniel Petermann. The status of all three for a Week 16 clash with Edmonton was unknown.

“Andrew’s a tough guy,” said Demski. “I don’t think he’ll be too fazed here. Like I said, my role on the team won’t change anything with my preparation.”

Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols repeated the next-man-up theme.

“It didn’t affect anything,” said Nichols, when asked how the departures of Demski and Harris affected Winnipeg’s offence.

“We have full faith in Kienan. Right when Andrew went down we marched down the field and Kienan scored a touchdown.

“Petermann did a great job. He’s a guy that’s just a jack of all trades. He knows every position and there’s a number of times he’s gone in there this year and been completely on point.”

HE SAID IT: Alouettes quarterback Johnny Manziel was kicking himself after being picked off by Winnipeg’s Marcus Sayles, killing a late fourth-quarter drive.

“I had a pre-snap plan with it and really thought I was going to work the seam and it was going to turn out to be man (coverage)… it ended up going zone,” said Manziel.

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“A million times I’ve seen that coverage and I’m really used to that corner, mid-pointing on that seam and robbing it underneath. He didn’t. He stayed super still and flat and it didn’t threaten him.

“He just let the seam go right down the middle. So I’m going to be sick. I’m sick here. I can picture it in my head. I see it in my head on loop, just over and over again. So it’s hard to sit here and swallow that.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14