Rutledge will use move to practice roster as opportunity to learn and improve

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This article was published 12/10/2022 (1061 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After starting 15 games at dimeback, Donald Rutledge, Jr. has been assigned to the practice roster.

The writing was on the wall for Rutledge, an American rookie, when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers made a deal with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week to acquire veteran defensive back Alden Darby, Jr.

Darby didn’t dress for last week’s victory against the Edmonton Elks as it was days after the trade, but the five-year CFL pro worked with the starters at the dime position at Wednesday’s practice.

Canadian Redha Kramdi started in favour of Rutledge in Week 18 and made three defensive tackles.

Darby is expected to get the start on Saturday in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions.

“With them making that move, it’s tough, but I know there’s no malicious intent on either side,” Rutledge said.

“They still believe in me, they still think I’m a good football player, and they still see a future with me. There’s just certain things that they feel like I can still learn, so, I’m just going to take this time to learn that.”

Head coach Mike O’Shea said it wasn’t easy to have that conversation with Rutledge.

“He’s been a part of a lot of wins, stepped into a position where we weren’t really working him out at in training camp. When we suffered an injury to Mercy Maston, he stepped in and he’s a good football player,” said O’Shea.

“We just had an opportunity to bring in Alden Darby and he’s a very good football player, too, with a ton more experience.”

Bombers release former NFLer

The Bombers released defensive back J.T. Hassell on Wednesday morning.

Hassell, who played seven NFL games between the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, signed with the Bombers last month and registered two special teams tackles in four games.

Hassell’s release is likely due to the fact the Bombers signed former Ticats defensive back Desmond Lawrence to the practice roster last week. Lawrence was Hamilton’s Most Outstanding Rookie nominee in 2o21.

Injury update

Wide receiver Greg Ellingson still isn’t practising with the team, but O’Shea said Wednesday they expect him to play before the post-season. Ellingson hasn’t played since Week 10.

After missing the past two games with a hip injury, defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat was back on the field Wednesday in a limited capacity. Linebacker Malik Clements also made his return to practice after a quadriceps injury had kept him out since Week 12.

Schoen named Top Performer

Dalton Schoen was named a CFL Top Performer for his Week 18 dominance in Saturday’s 48-11 win over Edmonton.

Schoen caught seven passes for a career-high 162 yards and three touchdowns on the night. The rookie from Kansas State currently leads the league in receiving yards (1,275) and touchdowns (14).

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

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