Wolitarsky healed and ready to go, bro

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This article was published 27/08/2024 (405 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Drew Wolitarsky is back, bro.

The Blue Bombers’ easy-going Californian receiver could hang loose again Tuesday as he practised for the first time since being injured in a July 27 contest against the Toronto Argonauts.

Wolitarsky said he expects to play in the annual Labour Day Classic against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina on Sunday (6 p.m.).

“If I’m out here, I’m ready to go,” said Wolitarsky.

“You know I had to be back for Labour Day, bro.”

The last month of rehab has been humbling for the unsung receiver, to say the least. Wolitarsky, who is no stranger to the injury bug, having missed several games in his seven-year career, said he learned a lot about himself and others during his time away, which included “a lot of yoga and a lot of breathing work,” as he battled the competitive itch.

“I’m really impatient,” was Wolitarsky’s takeaway about himself.

“It’s different. Your role is very different, you get to know a different side of the field. You get to know the injured guys and guys going through it, man. You see that side of football and you get humbled and you gain gratitude for what you had,” he said.

“It’s just been a unique month for me, and I gained a lot of respect for a lot of people in the building.”

Wolitarsky has accumulated 26 receptions for 326 yards and one touchdown in eight games this season.

Having never reached the 700-yard mark in a season in his career, his true impact can’t be found on the stat sheet.

“I think anybody who has been around our football team for the last decade… understands his value and his importance to what we do offensively, whether that’s in the run game or the pass game,” said quarterback Zach Collaros. “Another leader out there, another voice helping to get the young guys lined up. An excellent route runner, underrated in a lot of respects.”

Head coach Mike O’Shea noted Wolitarsky’s smarts and craftiness on the field can make him a true pain for the opposition to cover, and that the veteran is a welcomed return for a receiver room that has been bit hard by the injury bug this season.

“The joke on the defensive side in practice, especially through training camp, is, ‘Welcome to Woly’s world,’ because these DBs will line up against him or they’ve been watching him and they’re like, ‘OK.’ And he’s always open,” O’Shea said.

“He’s just got a craftiness to him and a good understanding of the game. Certainly a great amount of trust between the quarterbacks and him.”

STANLEY BRYANT EXPECTED TO PLAY

O’Shea said he expects veteran left tackle Stanley Bryant to play in Sunday’s Labour Day Classic, nine days after exiting last week’s contest against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on a stretcher.

After the game, O’Shea said Stanley was forced to drop out due to “a combination of the heat and being sick.” The 14-year pro, who had his vitals checked and was wrapped in cold towels after vomiting on the field, was taken to a hospital but released the next morning.

“When I walked on the field and Stanley was talking to us and talking to the doctor — and they just do a simple test — there’s relief. Even on the sideline, I was like, ‘OK, this is not what people are fearing,’” O’Shea said.

Bryant did not practise Tuesday as he continued to nurse an illness that has plagued him for more than a week.

WALLACE’S INJURY NOT SEASON-ENDING

Offensive lineman Gabe Wallace, who filled in at right guard when Bryant left and then suffered a brutal lower-body injury in the second quarter, was on crutches at practice but able to put weight on his bad leg.

It could be a while before the rookie returns to action, but O’Shea is optimistic it’s not a season-ending injury.

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jfreysam