Bombers lnjured list grows: Alexander helped off field at practice

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This article was published 29/07/2019 (2232 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GUELPH, Ont. — It was a sight that surely made players and members of the Blue Bombers coaching and support staff grimace.

Midway through Monday’s practice at Alumni Stadium, third-year defensive back Brandon Alexander had to be helped off the field and to the locker room. He was unable to put any weight on his right leg.

Perhaps an hour later, the picture looked considerably better as the 25-year-old returned, walking deliberately to the sidelines to watch the rest of the workout.

His status, combined with injuries suffered in Friday’s 23-15 loss in Hamilton by strong-side linebacker Anthony Gaitor (upper body) and receivers Drew Wolitarsky (lower body) and Darvin Adams (lower body), was a complication head coach Mike O’Shea didn’t need. Gaitor, Wolitarsky and Adams did not practise Monday.

“(Alexander) I’m not sure about,” O’Shea said when asked about the quartet’s status for Thursday’s game at BMO Field against the Toronto Argonauts. “Gaitor, I think he will be good. (Wolitarsky), I think he will be good. Darvin, we’re waiting another day to see what he can do tomorrow.”

KONGBO’S DEBUT?: Defensive end Jonathan Kongbo, Winnipeg’s fifth overall selection from the 2019 CFL draft, is due to come off the six-game injured list and he could very well see his first pro action this week.

The highly touted University of Tennessee grad suffered an ACL injury in his final season of college and has been feverishly rehabbing his knee in preparation for his first pro start.

“I speak to (head athletic therapist) Al (Couture) about him all the time,” Bombers GM Kyle Walters said. “He’s ready to go. He’s excited. If his name comes up, he’s going to show an enthusiasm and excitement. His work ethic through this period — he’s been frustrated at not being able to play.

“But the amount of work that young man’s put in to rehab that knee and the amount of work on the field… When he was allowed to practise, the offensive guys were like, ‘Tone it down a bit. We know you’re excited.’ He was getting into a little bit, as some of you guys saw last week, some of the O-linemen were telling him to slow it down a little bit because he was so excited.”

FEAR THE ARGOS?: No. 1 quarterback Matt Nichols says there is no chance the Bombers will take the 0-6 Argonauts lightly.

“They have a very good defence,” said Nichols, who had three TD passes in a 48-21 win over the Boatmen at IG Field in Week 5. “When you turn on the film, week-to-week, they’re getting better and better. They have some great things in place and it will probably just take one of two things for them to click. They’re getting closer and closer. For us, we’re playing against a good football team.

“We jumped on them a little bit early last time we played, but you can’t expect to have two big returns to start the game either. Aside from those, they did a pretty good job against us. So we know it’s going to be a good challenge for us to go in and play against a good defence.”

A WORK IN PROGRESS: Rookie punt returner Kenny Walker had his problems holding onto the ball in Hamilton, fumbling once and having another fumble overturned by a no-yards penalty.

On Monday, he was catching Justin Medlock punts along with practice-roster players Mike Jones and Janarion Grant, who is a recent addition from Rutgers.

“If you see reasons why guys don’t hang onto the ball, then you coach those reasons,” O’Shea said of Walker.

“But the main thing is to remain positive and let him know that he’s going to get an opportunity at some point. There are always guys around that are going to be returning balls around him, too, so there are certain things I need him to work (on) and he was out there working on them today and he looked good.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sawa14