Battered Willy takes break

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This article was published 01/10/2014 (4080 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Undoubtedly there must have been days this season when Drew Willy felt like sliding in a hot tub and staying there for hours.

Tuesday might have been one of those days.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ starting quarterback dressed, but took a pass on practising with the team to give his assortment of aches and pains a chance to heal.

And there are apparently many.

But Willy does plan to take the first snap from centre when the club travels to Ottawa this Friday for a matchup with the Redblacks.

“My body just wasn’t feeling great so I didn’t want to put the team in a bad situation out there,” said Willy afterward. “Hopefully tomorrow I can feel better and we’ll just go from there.

“I’m pretty sore from the game. I just want to do everything I can to be ready to go tomorrow. That’s the big thing, I didn’t want to make anything worse. I want to make sure I can go (Wednesday) in practice.”

Willy was sacked five times in last Saturday’s 16-11 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the club’s sixth loss in its last seven. Head coach Mike O’Shea said his pivot wouldn’t have to practise on Wednesday in order to suit up against Ottawa.

Brian Brohm took most of the reps with the No. 1 offensive unit at practice Tuesday.

Willy wasn’t the only Bomber to be given a maintenance day as offensive linemen Glenn January and Jarvis Jones were spectators but are expected to play.

The news isn’t as good for defensive back/kick returner Troy Stoudermire, who was wearing a walking boot Tuesday and will be out against Ottawa. Sam McGuffie, who was signed in July after stints on NFL practice rosters in New England, Oakland and Arizona, will draw into the lineup. Still nursing injuries and unavailable for the Ottawa tilt are SB Nick Moore, OL Paddy Neufeld and LB Ian Wild. The good news on the injury front? LB/DB Graig Newman, who dislocated and fractured his ankle in the pre-season, has made significant progress.

“Nothing is settled on it. We talk on a regular basis,” said O’Shea. “He tells me he’s going to be ready at some point. (The rehab) is going very well. (Head athletic therapist) Al (Couture) said the progress was pretty remarkable. No setbacks.”

NEW BLUE BLOOD: The Bombers announced the addition of two more imports, both receivers. Coming aboard are:

• Rashad Lawrence (6-2, 190, Northwestern) started 30 of 49 games at Northwestern, pulling in 96 receptions for 1,165 yards and two TDs. Lawrence signed with Washington after going undrafted this spring, but was released following training camp.
• Justin Wilson (5-11, 180, Delaware State) played five years for the Hornets and finishing his collegiate career as the school’s second all-time receiver with 189 receptions for 2,416 yards and 23 touchdowns. In his senior season he caught 67 passes for a 816 yards and six TDs. He was signed by Green Bay in 2013 but later released.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait