Bombers hand ball to speedy Garrett

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/09/2011 (5482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

AS expected, Chris Garrett will be the starting running back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers against the Montreal Alouettes Friday.

Who gets the ball after that game? T.B.D. — to be determined.

Bombers general manager Joe Mack confirmed that Garrett, the second-year speedster from Ohio who joined the team late last season, will replace Fred Reid when the Bombers (8-4) lock horns with the Alouettes (7-5) in a first-place battle at Canad Inns Stadium.

Earlier in the day, the club announced Reid and backup running back Carl Volny are both done for the year with torn knee ligaments, ACL injuries suffered in Winnipeg’s 25-24 loss to the Toronto Argonauts Saturday night.

Prior to the promotion, Garrett, 24, had been on the practice roster. His only significant time in the Winnipeg backfield came in the last game of the 2010 season, when he rushed 13 times for 82 yards against Calgary.

Another import back, Bloi-Dei Dorzon, arrived in town Monday, but Mack said he’ll need at least a week to get up to speed. Look for the club to bring in a few more players in the next couple of days, Mack says, as CFL practice rosters expand from seven to 12 players.

When asked if any of those bodies could be tailbacks with CFL experience — like a Daniel Porter, Arkee Whitlock, or even former Bomber Yvenson Bernard — the GM offered this: “I don’t mean this to be degrading to any of the guys out there but if there was a running back out there with CFL experience that we thought could be a difference maker, we would do it.”

Like him or not, losing Reid for the year has to be considered a major setback. Coming off a CFL-best 1,396 yards in 2010, Reid had 181 carries for 759 yards and four touchdowns, good for second spot among the CFL rushing leaders. His injury is a crippling blow for Winnipeg but for Reid, the injury is even more devastating. At 29, a torn ACL will be tough to come back from.

Volny, a fifth-round draft pick (32nd overall) in the 2011 CFL draft who showed some big upside, joins Reid, linebacker Joe Lobendahn and quarterback Joey Elliott with season-ending ACL injuries.

The Bombers offence is already dealing with ailments to starting quarterback Buck Pierce (ribs) and second-stringer Alex Brink (shoulder).

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to CASL agreement.

On Monday, Brink indicated via his Twitter account that he intends to be practising this morning.

Pierce is expected be held out to give his ribs an extra day of rest.

Defensive lineman Doug Brown (shoulder) and offensive lineman Brendon LaBatte (shoulder) are doubtful for Friday’s game.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

more bomber coverage c2-3