Neufeld finds a home at right tackle

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This article was published 24/08/2015 (4029 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

AFTER bouncing around on the offensive line since returning from injury in Week 4, it looks as though Patrick Neufeld has found permanent residence.

Neufeld replaced the injured Jace Daniels at right tackle for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ first practice coming off their bye week Sunday, and looks to stick there for the foreseeable future.

Daniels, who went down in the second half in the Bombers’ 27-20 loss to the Toronto Argonauts in Week 8, is likely done for the season with a broken ankle, according to head coach Mike O’Shea. O’Shea said Daniels had surgery to repair the damage during the bye week and offered no timetable for his return.

Neufeld played tackle in college and his first couple of seasons as a pro.

“It’s definitely a spot I’m comfortable at,” Neufeld said. “I’m definitely excited to get back into the lineup and go out and compete.”

Neufeld last suited up at tackle in a pre-season game last year and last saw meaningful action at the position in 2013. The Regina native has seen work at four of the five spots on the O-line this year, with left tackle being the odd spot out.

“There’s just a little more space,” Neufeld said of moving from the interior to the exterior of the line. “There’s probably a little bit quicker of an athlete out there on defensive end. Definitely a spot, like I said, I’m comfortable at. It won’t be an issue playing out there.

“I’ll have to shake the rust during the week at practice, but having today helped, and then we have a full week of practice.”

Neufeld, still recovering from a broken thumb that forced him to the sidelines against the Argos, said the ailment won’t hinder his performance Saturday when the Bombers host Calgary.

“Not at all,” he said. “Our training staff has did a good job in getting it ready for the game. I tested it out today and it was a non-issue.”

Losers of their last four out of five contests, Neufeld knows righting the ship is at the top of the list this week. “Definitely. We know this is a tight (division) and there’s a lot of parity this year in the CFL,” he said. “We got to start stacking some wins.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca