Lucky to have him

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This article was published 05/06/2019 (2286 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wide receiver Lucky Whitehead has been the subject of favourable training camp buzz, and that shouldn’t be a surprise.

Signed out of one of Winnipeg’s spring free agent camps, the 5-9, 180-pounder from Manassas, Va., came to the CFL with some serious NFL credentials. But he’s made his biggest statement on the field.

Perhaps the fastest player on the Blue Bombers roster, the 27-year-old Whitehead has turned heads with his ability to catch the football and separate quickly from defenders. His skill set in the return game also looks ready to explode.

“The game’s slowing down for me,” Whitehead said on Wednesday, as the Blue Bombers prepared to depart for their final pre-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders tonight in Regina. “I’m understanding a lot more in my playbook. I’m understanding the plays, the concepts, so I’m definitely moving faster.”

No. 1 quarterback Matt Nichols, who will see his first game action this season, can’t wait to see what Whitehead does next.

“Honestly, I remember watching him a little bit in the NFL, especially as a return guy,” Nichols said. “I feel like when you’re a good return guy, that’s what they label you as. But he’s a heckuva receiver and he’s really caught on to this offence quickly, and I think it helps having a couple of veteran guys on the field with him during a lot of his (training camp) reps where he’s kinda learning on the fly and picking things up quickly.

“He’s a very talented receiver and a guy that can add another dynamic for us. He’s a guy who can get the ball in his hands on a five-yard pass and take it 60. He’s that much faster than everyone else.” 

Whitehead’s pre-season debut last week against the Edmonton Eskimos had modest results: he carried the ball once for four yards while being targeted twice in the passing game and catching one pass for seven yards. He also returned one kickoff for 14 yards and three punts for a total of 30 yards.

Whitehead promised a better performance tonight.

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“I don’t wanna put no bad stuff on tape. I just want to fly around,” he said. “Offensive side, I’ve got the first and second quarter (against Saskatchewan), so you know, be more in sync and get some more catches. Special-teams stuff is gonna come as it comes. I’m just ready to fly around.”

Head coach Mike O’Shea was asked if he thinks Whitehead has game-breaking potential.

“We’ll see,” O’Shea said. “I think he does. Get the ball in his hands and take a look at it. He’s been successful wherever he has been, so there’s no reason to think he won’t be successful here, too.” 

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14