BLUE BOMBERS Notebook

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This article was published 09/06/2013 (4498 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Morley being challenged

WINNIPEG Blue Bombers head coach Tim Burke says one of the better battles shaping up in camp this year is at right guard, where non-import veteran Steve Morley is getting pushed by non-import Paul Swiston.

“Steve is very consistent and I think Swiston is gaining on him. So it’s going to be a pretty good battle there,” said Burke.

“Paul needs to take his game just a little bit farther. He probably has more to offer from a physical standpoint…

“I don’t mean that in a negative way towards Steve. I’m just saying (Swiston) is a bigger body. They’re probably very similar athletically.”

Swiston (6-9, 322, Calgary) didn’t play at all in 2011 but did practice while on the nine-game injured reserve list. He took a big step forward in 2012, however, starting as an injury replacement in the first game of the season and dressing for the other 17 games as the team’s sixth offensive lineman.

Swiston is just 24, while Morley — in his eighth CFL season — will turn 32 this summer.

Watson on shelf with hand hurt

SLOTBACK Cory Watson is hurt again — and the Bombers aren’t entirely sure just yet how serious it is.

Watson, who was also dogged by injuries last season, injured his left hand in a collision during practice on Friday and head coach Tim Burke said Saturday the hand swelled up overnight.

Watson did not practice on Saturday. Burke said a preliminary examination by Bombers trainer Al Couture suggests Watson hasn’t broken any bones, but the Bombers are going to have him examined by a doctor more thoroughly this weekend.

Watson missed eight games last season — the first four and the last four — due to unrelated injuries. He also missed three games of his rookie 2010 season with a knee injury.

The injury to Watson is just the latest in a long line of Bombers receivers to get hurt during the opening week of training camp.

In addition to Watson, receivers Chris Matthews (back), Isaac Anderson (knees and back), Wallace Miles (hamstring) and Rory Kohlert (hamstring) were also injured earlier in the week and were still not practicing on Saturday. And local product Taylor Renaud is also now hurt, after pulling a hamstring during practice on Saturday morning and leaving the field early.

Also injured and not practicing on Saturday were cornerback Jovon Johnson (sore), linebacker Henoc Muamba (hamstring), offensive lineman Mark Dewit (back) and defensive lineman Dexter Davis (hamstring).

Running back Chris Garrett, who missed the practices on Thursday and Friday, returned Saturday.

The Bombers practice just once today, at 11:15 a.m.

— Paul Wiecek