Waiting game over as pumped-up Whitehead gets start against Lions

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This article was published 31/07/2024 (459 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Bomberland can stop nagging Lucky Whitehead for an answer.

Since the Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed the veteran receiver to the practice roster nearly four weeks ago, the 32-year-old has been pestered by fans in public and on social media on when he was finally going to suit up and play.

That time is finally here as Whitehead has been called up to start Thursday’s West Division showdown against the visiting B.C. Lions (7:30 p.m. kickoff).

“Obviously, it was a waiting game, just learning and sitting back and constantly watching. When I finally got active, (head coach Mike O’Shea) kind of patted me on the butt and was like, ‘Thank you for being patient,’” said Whitehead after Wednesday’s walkthrough practice.

The Bombers need Whitehead in a major way after losing yet another receiver due to injury in Drew Wolitarsky. In last week’s 16-14 overtime loss against the Toronto Argonauts, Wolitarsky left with a shoulder injury and has been placed on the six-game injured list.

It’s a void Whitehead — a former Dallas Cowboy who broke into the CFL with the Bombers in 2019 before spending the past three years with B.C. — is eager to fill.

“I got a pep in my step. I’ve got fresh legs and I’m excited to fly around,” said Whitehead.

“My first practice yesterday, my legs were too good. I had to slow myself down a little bit. But it’s gonna be fun.”

Whitehead quickly became a fan favourite in his first stint with Winnipeg for his recognizable name, playmaking ability, and big personality. He ended up finishing that year as a spectator, though, as he lost his starting gig to Rasheed Bailey down the stretch and didn’t dress for the Grey Cup win in Calgary over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The following CFL season, Whitehead became a star with the Lions, but that didn’t stop him from flying into Winnipeg to watch the Bombers beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 2021 West Division Final. Whitehead braved the cold and sat in the seats behind the end zone with all the fans and even donned a Blue Bombers tuque.

On Wednesday, one of the fans that watched that game next to him stopped by practice to gift him a t-shirt with a picture of Whitehead and him from that night.

“Section 141… I’m super excited to run down there and obviously, get them pumped up. I’m gonna get the stadium pumped up. Obviously, that’s just my energy and my character,” said Whitehead.

“And it helps me to do fun stuff on the field within the game. If you see me catch something and I’m going out of bounds and I’m closer to the fans, I’m definitely going to get them pumped up any chance I get whether it’s a one-yard catch or 30.”

Despite only having a few weeks with the playbook, head coach Mike O’Shea feels confident in the former NFLer.

“We needed to just see that he knew what he was doing. You trust his athleticism and professionalism and all that. He’s a playmaker. But the way we operate, they need to be in the right spot. So just took a bit of time,” said O’Shea.

FROM ALABAMA TO WINNIPEG

The average rookie might feel a little anxious heading into their first start.

American offensive lineman Kendall Randolph is no stranger to being put into big moments as the 25-year-old played four years at the University of Alabama and won a national championship in 2021.

Randolph is replacing an injured Patrick Neufeld at right guard.

“I’ve played in some big games, and this is obviously a big game as well,” said Randolph. “The most important game is the one in front of me and I’m going to make sure that I can go out and be there for my team.”

Randolph had a unique arrangement in college where he played tight end and was used as a reserve offensive lineman.

Randolph played three preseason games with the Seattle Seahawks in 2023 before signing with the Bombers in the offseason.

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“I would start off a game at tight end… By halftime, they would change my jersey over from 85 to 60 and I would go in at guard or tackle, either side, left or right. My whole goal in college was to be wherever coach needed me,” said Randolph.

Canadian guard Tui Eli is in his fourth year with the Bombers but head coach Mike O’Shea likes what he has seen from the former member of the Crimson Tide.

“There’s a bit of a physical difference, size difference. Tui’s quite capable, too, and we’ll see how it all works out. But Tui’s been having an excellent year as our sixth, and he’s also a very capable centre for us. Just thought this was the right move for right now,” said O’Shea. “See what we have.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

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Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.