Bombers watching sick bay closely

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This article was published 23/07/2015 (3702 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Winnipeg Blue Bombers will keep one eye on the infirmary and the other on the practice field today during their final workout prior to this weekend’s West Division clash in Edmonton against the Eskimos.

Both centre Dominic Picard and safety Maurice Leggett left practice early Wednesday, but head coach Mike O’Shea remains hopeful both men will be available to play Saturday.

Picard missed practice Tuesday with what was described as a virus. He attempted to return to practice on Wednesday.

It didn’t go well — or last very long.

“He came to practice, we had a nice chat and then partway through practice, he had to run (to the bathroom),” O’Shea said of Picard.

Leggett, meanwhile, sustained an undisclosed injury near the end of practice and did not finish the session, but O’Shea was not concerned.

The Bombers are preparing to face an Eskimos side that features the best defence in the CFL. O’Shea was asked if taking on a team with a defence like that means his defence will also need to rise to the occasion for the Bombers to be competitive.

“No, in that particular matchup, you want our offence to be able to take what Edmonton gives up and then also push a few things down their throat. You want to be able to dictate to them also.”

With two starting defensive linemen out this week — Bryant Turner is nursing a broken thumb and Greg Peach sustained a lower-body injury in the loss to the Calgary Stampeders last Saturday — the Bombers will rotate a committee of players through those two spots.

Nate Collins and Deantre Harlan both replaced Turner at tackle last weekend and O’Shea said Harlan could also see reps at Peach’s end position this week. The Bombers have also had Derrell Johnson and Thaddeus Gibson rotating through Peach’s spot this week and O’Shea said Kashawn Fraser could also see some action.

Turner has missed one game aand has been placed on the six-game injured list, although O’Shea said as recently as Tuesday Turner would soon be fitted with a playing cast and could potentially return as early as next week. The Bombers do have the option of taking a player off the six-game injured list early without penalty.

Meanwhile, at right tackle, starter Jace Daniels returned to practice Wednesday but Devin Tyler continued to take the starting reps.

QUOTABLE: “It was good to contribute to the team in whatever way possible but at the same time, you’ve got to win. If I had zero catches and we would have won 26-25 I would have been happy, too. It’s about winning.” — wide receiver Darvin Adams, who had five catches for 121 yards and a touchdown in Calgary last weekend.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @PaulWiecek @WFPEdTait