Alexander ready, and willing, to do whatever it takes

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This article was published 05/11/2024 (335 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon Alexander wants you to know he’s “all good.”

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers veteran safety has been out of the lineup for the last six weeks with an injured hand, the details of which have been kept private by the player and team, even as Alexander has returned to practice this week.

An unwillingness to expand on what’s been bothering him was Alexander’s way of saying the injury is behind him. With Saturday’s Western final against the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders just days ahead, the conversation shifted to whether or not he’d be ready to play after the long layoff.

“Whatever they need me to do,” was how Alexander answered when asked about his status. “I don’t care what it is, whether it’s somewhere else on the defence or on special teams, it doesn’t matter to me. Whatever plan they got for me, I’m here all the way.”

The Bombers will have a decision to make at safety. With Alexander out, most of the first-team defensive reps at practice have gone to 2023 draft pick Jake Kelly and veteran Nick Taylor, who the Bombers signed just weeks ago.

“Whatever needs to get done needs to get done,” Alexander said. “There is no competition; we’re going to put our best foot forward and whatever that looks like, we’re all-in on it.”

He added: “I want to win just as bad as the next guy, so if that requires me being on the field, off the field, being a coach or a player, that doesn’t matter to me. I just want to help get the job done.”

So, how does Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea make that decision?

“The good thing is we’ve got a few more days,” O’Shea said. “In any given week, the roster should reflect whatever it takes to win.”

To hear that Alexander was open to whatever role the coaches gave him was music to the ears of O’Shea.

“We got a whole room full of those guys, but Brandon is also exceptional,” the coach added. “Over the course of a bunch of years, we’ve got a bunch of guys that understand their role and thrive in their role and might not like it, but just power through it for the betterment of the group. There are a bunch of guys like that.”

While every player is dealing with the bumps and bruises of a gruelling season, the Bombers are finding their health at the right time. Not only is Alexander eyeing a return, but receiver Drew Wolitarsky and linebacker Kyrie Wilson could be close behind.

That’s not saying the Bombers aren’t short a few good men — receiver Dalton Schoen, quarterback Chris Streveler and linebacker Adam Bighill have all been ruled out for the season — but they are relatively healthy.

“Nobody feels great this time of year,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “You’d have to go back to three or four days before training camp is when they feel their best. They’ll never feel that way until three or four days before their next training camp.

“They put themselves through the ringer for their teammates, they lay it on the line all the time. I would say given we got the bye week, our guys are in the best state they can be in.”

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton