Rookie Vaval restores Bombers return threat

It would’ve been one thing if Trey Vaval was just another training camp darling, but the rookie returner has become so much more for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The 24-year-old has pleasantly surprised through the first four games of the season, restoring a threat in the return game that the club sorely lacked last season.

“I think he’s done an excellent job,” said special teams co-ordinator Mike Miller. “I mean, for a young guy coming in, getting the understanding and just picking up some stuff that usually takes some people longer to pick up, I think he’s done an excellent job jumping in right out of the gate and in getting us some good returns.”

When training camp opened, Vaval was largely an unknown as the Bombers worked out several options at returner, including veteran Peyton Logan, who figured to be the top candidate to field kicks. With Logan going down with an injury and Vaval flashing in-game action, however, the 5-11, 163-pounder shot to the top of the list of contenders and ultimately won the job.

Vaval has continued to impress in meaningful games, ranking fourth among all players in punt return average (13 yards per attempt) and fifth in kickoff return average (24.9 yards).

“Every day I wake up, I get better, doesn’t matter what I do. It’s one per cent better, find a little something in the details to get better with every day,” Vaval said after Monday’s practice.

Vaval’s best weapon has been his elusiveness. Things haven’t always been pretty in the kick coverage, but the shifty specialist has made the most out of what’s available on nearly every return. His progress through four contests is already noticeable.

“Things for sure have slowed down,” he said. “Beginning here, I didn’t know anything about this league, I didn’t know any rules or nothing. So now, just being able to play games and go through certain situations and sit down with them, learning different situations too, it just helped me slow the game down a little bit more and take in the game faster.”

If there’s one knock on the young returner, it’s been his inconsistencies when fielding the ball. Vaval has allowed the ball to hit the carpet in each of the Bombers’ first four games, muffing a kick.

His mistakes proved to be costly once, as his fumble in Week 4 was recovered by Edmonton in Bombers territory. Beyond that instance, he’s managed to get away with it, but he knows that’s an area that must be cleaned up.

“Being a returner, anybody that has the ball in their hands, you want to make sure you secure the ball. So, yeah, I’m always going to be hard on myself in situations like that,” Vaval said. Just come out and practice catching balls before practice, after practice. I’ve been doing this my whole life, so, every punt returner… they’re gonna bobble, they’re gonna drop them, it’s just what you do the next play and limiting the mistakes that you do make.”

Added Miller: “He acts more like a vet, so he’s addressed those things. He’s making sure he’s always working on ball security, for sure.”

Injury update

Receiver Dalton Schoen missed his second straight day of practice on Monday while dealing with a knee injury he suffered in the fourth quarter of the Bombers’ Week 5 contest against the Calgary Stampeders.

Also missing a second session in a row was left tackle Stanley Bryant, who is dealing with an ankle injury. The 39-year-old also left in the fourth quarter and was visibly shaken up as he hobbled to the sideline.

Bryant’s sitting could be precautionary, but his status for Friday’s rematch with the Stamps will become clearer as the week continues. Micah Vanterpool, who has started two games at left guard, filled in for Bryant while Gabe Wallace aligned at left guard.

Fullback Michael Chris-Ike also missed Monday’s session with a knee ailment.

On a positive note, right tackle Eric Lofton was a full participant for the second day in a row as he returns from a knee injury that robbed most of his preseason. The veteran American lineman started all 18 games for the Bombers last season, but reclaiming his spot in the lineup isn’t a certainty with the way Kendall Randolph has played this season.

Meanwhile, head coach Mike O’Shea said running back Peyton Logan (thigh) and long snapper Mike Benson (hip) are “probably close” to practising.

Logan, who signed with the club in free agency last off-season, has not practised since the early days of training camp, while Benson was injured in the club’s season-opener.

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

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Joshua Frey-Sam
Reporter

Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh.

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