Bombers breathing easier as Bryant returns to practice

Key offensive lineman out more than a week

By: Paul Wiecek Posted: 3:00 AM CDT Saturday, Jun. 13, 2015

THAT sound you heard Friday morning was a collective sigh of relief coming out of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers front office as the club's big free-agent signing over the off-season -- left tackle Stanley Bryant -- finally practised after missing more than a week with a leg injury.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/06/2015 (3767 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THAT sound you heard Friday morning was a collective sigh of relief coming out of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers front office as the club’s big free-agent signing over the off-season — left tackle Stanley Bryant — finally practised after missing more than a week with a leg injury.

The Bombers have built a lot of their hopes of playing in front of their own fans in the Grey Cup game this November around an offensive line that was dramatically revamped and improved during the off-season after a disastrous 2014.

And Bryant — widely regarded as the best left tackle in the entire CFL and, with his new deal from the Bombers, the best paid — is expected to be a central part of that new offensive line.

Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press
Stanley Bryant, left tackle, at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers camp Friday. — Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press Stanley Bryant, left tackle, at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers camp Friday.

That can only happen if Bryant is on the field, and while the Bombers braintrust insisted they weren’t panicking about his absence, head coach Mike O’Shea conceded in recent days it was going to become a serious concern if Bryant didn’t return soon.

Cue Bryant, who showed up to Bombers’ practice Friday with a helmet and shoulder pads and was a full participant for the two-hour session.

“It feels good to be back. And I see a lot of guys got better since the last time I was practising,” Bryant said. “It was physical — and there’s still some things to work on for myself. But as a group we looked good.”

The Bombers could conceivably have four new starters on the offensive line and the fact a unit that must work as a seamless whole to be effective has had so little practice time together during training camp was a growing concern.

But Bryant insists that’s overblown.

“I think it’s just a minor setback,” said Bryant. “I think as a group, man, we look good. As I said before, guys are picking it up.”

Bryant was asked if he has any catching up to do, having missed so much of camp with what is a new team and offence for him.

“Yeah, a little bit. But I think I’m fine now.”

O’Shea said Bryant’s return means he can get some pre-season action when the Bombers play their final exhibition game next Friday at home against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

And that solves what was a potential problem prior to Bryant’s return.

“It’d be better (for Bryant) to play in that pre-season game — most definitely,” said O’Shea. “If he didn’t, that would be a decision we’d have to make later as to whether he was ready to start the (regular) season.

“He was out here today. So I think we’ve figured that one out.”

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