Blue Bombers Notebook

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This article was published 17/06/2013 (4480 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Edwards, Sears back

IN the tug of war between good news and bad news around the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the good side saw a couple of important players back on the field at Investors Group Field Sunday, coming off injuries.

Veteran receiver Terrence Edwards (foot) and linebacker Johnny Sears (knee) had their first participation days at training camp.

“I’m feeling good, finished practice, felt good,” Edwards said Sunday. “I’m going to still take it slow. It’s on course where I want it to be for the first game.”

Sears said he doubts he’ll be ready for the season-opener, June 27 at home vs. Montreal, but seemed charged up Sunday nevertheless.

“I think it went good for my first day,” he said. “I was kind of surprised. It didn’t feel like I wanted to yet. I didn’t have the burst, the explosiveness but it’s still early in the process.

“I’ve never been through something like that before. Plus, I had a little girl on the way, too, so I was dealing with that, so that kind of helped me… give me something bigger to worry about.”

Over to you, Demond

SECOND-YEAR CFLer Demond Washington is being tabbed as the man to go into Jonathan Hefney’s halfback spot.

“I think Demond has had a great camp,” head coach Tim Burke said. “He’s come back and he’s aggressively sought any position to play. Demond will do anything to play and I love that in a guy. He excited to have a chance to be that boundary halfback and I would say probably right now he’ll have that position.”

Washington said Sunday he’s trying to maintain focus.

“Jonathan, first of all, he’s a great guy, one of my friends,” Washington said. “I’m sad to see him go. But the opportunity’s great, I’ve just got to go in and get the job done.”

Just call it a day off

AMONG those who didn’t participate in practice Sunday was offensive lineman Glenn January.

“Just sitting out, sore in certain spots,” Burke said, a bit of a smile present. “Sometimes when you’re as old as Glenn (30), things start hurting after a while. I know that feeling. He’s been out there every day, been practising, has some areas that are sore and it’s just a chance to give him a rest.”

And then Burke’s standard injury line: “It’s nothing life-threatening.”

Also remaining on the sidelines with injuries Sunday: linebackers Henoc Muamba and Rene Stephan, defensive back Jeremy McGee and receivers Kurt Adams, Isaac Anderson, Rory Kohlert and Taylor Renaud.

“He’s the coach”

JOVON Johnson said Sunday he had no issue with head coach Tim Burke’s frequent calling out of the defensive secondary in recent weeks.

“The coach has got to do things to motivate his players,” Johnson said. “He went to the media and said he wanted us to go harder and do what we needed to do and we respect that as players because in this business, the only way to prolong your career is to be consistent, go out and do what you’ve got to do every day.

“Coming from the head coach, you can only respect that and go out and perform and try to be consistent on a daily basis.”

Last call

BURKE promised his lineup for the exhibition game in Guelph on Thursday against Hamilton will be a young squad.

“This is the last chance for guys to make the team,” the coach said. “We’re going to leave a lot of guys home. It’s going to be a lot of young guys against their vets. This is a chance for the guys making this trip to make the roster or make the practice squad.”

More decisions

DEMOND Washington’s “promotion” to the first defensive unit has not disqualified him from a possible role as a kick-returner, Burke said Sunday.

Remaining in the mix to return kickoffs, punts and missed field goals are Washington, Jameze Massey, Trevor Kennedy and Jovon Johnson.