Blue consider plan to rush import Wilson into lineup

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This article was published 23/10/2014 (4058 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s looking more and more like receiver Justin Wilson could make his CFL debut this weekend, barely three weeks after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed the Delaware State grad to their practice roster.

With veteran slotback Nick Moore not practising this week due to yet another injury — this one sustained last Saturday in a Bombers loss to Calgary — Wilson has been taking first-team reps at Bombers practice at Investors Group Field.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea insisted Wednesday that he hasn’t yet decided whether Wilson will start Saturday against B.C., in part because the club still hasn’t ruled out the possibility Moore might be able to play. Moore will be re-evaluated today, O’Shea said.

But if Wilson does start this weekend, it means he has leap-frogged Aaron Kelly on the depth chart. At one point this season, Kelly led all Bombers receivers in yardage over a four-game stretch but has fallen out of favour with coaches and been unable to get into the lineup in recent weeks.

Wilson caught the Bombers’ attention during a free agent tryout in Buffalo last month and was signed Sept. 30.

He admitted to a steep learning curve.

“It’s a lot to get used to,” Wilson said following practice.

“Some things you have to get used to — different coverages and things because the defence has that extra man out there. But it’s all football — run and catch, block and tackle.”

— — —

Bombers offensive lineman Pat Neufeld is hurt. Again.

Neufeld, who has missed seven games this season with a calf injury, reinjured his leg during practice Wednesday morning, putting in doubt the club’s plans to see Neufeld finally return to the lineup Saturday.

Neufeld — who got hurt in a game in Week 9 — did not finish practice Wednesday and O’Shea said he will be checked out.

“He’s got to get evaluated,” said O’Shea. “I don’t know if he’s re-pulled the calf or not. But he felt something and it was just best to stop practising right away.”

Neufeld has a long history of injuries. He was acquired by the Bombers in a trade with Saskatchewan midway through the 2013 season that sent DE Alex Hall to the Roughriders, but he never did play for Winnipeg last year due to an injury to his other leg.

O’Shea said no one should question Neufeld’s toughness.

“I feel badly for Pat,” he said. “He doesn’t want to be sitting on the sidelines this long. He wants to play. He works hard… You’re not dealing with a lazy guy who doesn’t make his treatments and isn’t interested.”

In other injury news involving the offensive line, O’Shea said Devin Tyler has been ruled out for this week, but Glenn January did take all the first-team reps at practice for the first time in over a week. January has missed the last two games with a sore back.

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O’Shea also said defensive back Demond Washington — who didn’t practise again Wednesday — hasn’t yet been ruled out for Saturday and will be further evaluated today. Washington took a knee to the head during the loss to Calgary.

— — —

The Bombers have been using a 3-4 defensive formation a lot during practice this week… QB Brian Brohm — who broke his thumb against Calgary and is out for the season — has now had surgery. O’Shea said it was a success… Injured non-import receiver Julian Feoli-Gudino was practising with the special teams on Wednesday, suggesting he’ll return to the lineup this weekend.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @PaulWiecek