Injuries a setback on the road to rebuilding

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/08/2010 (5892 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LOST in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers struggles of late — or perhaps a direct cause of the three-game losing skid, depending on how you look at it — is the absence of two prized starting rookie imports, wide-out Terence Jeffers-Harris and linebacker Marcellus Bowman.

Jeffers-Harris, 22, has missed the last two games after suffering an ankle sprain in Calgary (July 31) and according to head coach Paul LaPolice, is still a month away from returning. Bowman is out due to a broken bone in his hand, an injury that came during a home win against Edmonton (July 24).

The 23-year-old sits out his fourth straight game when the Bombers take on the Montreal Alouettes at Percival Molson Stadium Thursday night (6:30 p.m.).

"Frustrated doesn’t even to begin to describe it," said the 6-foot-3, 231-pound Bowman, who hopes to be back on the field for the Labour Day Classic. "Just like most players, the more games you stack up consecutively, the more comfortable you get out there. That’s kind of what was happening with me out there — then I got hurt."

With 317 yards receiving and three touchdowns, Jeffers-Harris’ electric speed put him as a potential rookie of the year candidate after the first five games. Unfortunately for both the player and the club, the player is getting more attention for the big club he’s dragging around the sidelines at practice these days.

"This thing…it’s slowed down my season, and I didn’t want any part of that," he said, looking down at the clunky walking boot on his right foot. "It’s hurting me to miss this much time, I know that, but hopefully I can limit the impact this (injury) has on my game."

Losing starters is tough for a team to overcome at the best of times but when the injury-riddled Bombers look at the bigger picture concerning Jeffers-Harris and Bowman, that’s when LaPolice probably wants to bang his head against the wall.

Silver linings of 2-5 outfits largely consist of better days ahead, and those better days stem from the scenario of future cornerstones absorbing the seasoning they need to become better players. For an example of this, see: Jyles, Steven.

If the player isn’t on the field in game action, though, the marinade can’t sink in, setting the education cycle back for the player and putting the team in a potential holding pattern in terms of tangible future successes (ie: wins).

"Anytime you lose starters and good young players, it’s something you have to adjust to and overcome," LaPolice said Tuesday. "It’s a lot easier when you have the same roster week after week, but it’s out of our control.

"The thing they have to do is stay with it mentally. They have to be able to come back and not miss a beat."

What works in Jeffers-Harris’s and Bowman’s favour is that the CFL is a long grind, and there will be plenty of chances to play once they get the green light from the trainers. Until that time comes, the last few weeks of waiting to heal has been an exercise in patience.