Hand injury sidelines Winnipeg’s Johnson

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This article was published 06/07/2016 (3360 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The absence of halfback Bruce Johnson for Thursday’s game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will mean a bit of re-jigging in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ secondary.

Johnson, who missed Monday and Tuesday’s practice with an undisclosed injury, was a spectator Tuesday with his right hand taped.

Head coach Mike O’Shea played coy about who would fill the vacancy opposite fellow halfback Julian Posey.

“We’ll stick to the plan of speaking about the roster tomorrow,” he said. “A lot of guys took reps today. Some guys did pretty good. We like that there’s still competition.”

The front-runner for Johnson’s starting spot is Travis Hawkins, a sophomore CFLer who saw time in 15 games with Toronto Argonauts last year. There, the former Delaware Fighting Blue Hen collected 37 tackles, two interceptions and a touchdown.

Defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall has like what he’s seen from Hawkins.

“He’s hungry because he was without a job and now he’s itching to get on the field,” said Blue Bombers’ defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall. “He understands the CFL, he has a whole year under his belt. Even though he might be new to us, he’s not new to the league.”

Get in and get out

Speaking of Hall, the veteran defensive co-ordinator wants nothing more than to have his troops go on the field and get off of it as quickly as possible.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Hall claims his defence is capable of being a top notch crew in the Canadian Football League, they just haven’t found that consistent touch two games into the 2016 season.

“The biggest thing is that we’ve been inconsistent. I thought we played pretty well in the first game against Montreal and then we laid an egg last week,” Hall said, stressing that the defence isn’t struggling as a unit. “The whole thing is that we have another opportunity to go out there and play the way we’re capable of playing.”

Staying put

Come hell or high water, Drew Willy will command the Blue Bombers offence, and the notion that he could give way for backup Matt Nichols, even for a series or two — a change of pace — doesn’t sit well with head coach Mike O’Shea.

Fans’ confidence in Willy’s talents at quarterback has grown more and more weary through two games of the 2016 regular season. Chants of “We want Nichols” could be heard during the team’s home opener, and after a particularly poor first two starts from the former Saskatchewan Roughrider, those same voices have only grown louder.

Still, O’Shea, who has been labeled as a stubborn sort of fellow during his time in Winnipeg, isn’t budging when it comes to who will see this offence to success or to the slaughter.

“No. I’ve not considered it,” O’Shea said after Tuesday’s final practice before Week 3’s game in Hamilton.

O’Shea went as far to say that he feels Willy is playing at a “pretty good clip.”

“I guess the next thing is, you’re going to say, ‘Well, not to start the game,’ but he’s working through his progressions quickly. He’s making throws.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @scottbilleck

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

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