Blue Bombers battle through injuries, overcome adversity in gritty win

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This article was published 24/08/2024 (389 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Some players’ absences are simply felt more than others.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have navigated more than their fair share of injuries this season but were dealt a particularly large blow — literally and figuratively — during their 26-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Princess Auto Stadium on Friday night.

Veteran left tackle Stanley Bryant exited the game on a stretcher during Winnipeg’s opening drive with what head coach Mike O’Shea later described as “a combination of the heat and being sick.” A 10-minute-plus stoppage included Bryant taking a knee, attempting to walk off the field with the support of staff before taking another knee, getting sick and being loaded onto the stretcher.

On the stretcher, Bryant was administered an IV and had his vitals checked before leaving with towels draped over his head and around his left leg.

“I don’t normally talk about this stuff,” began O’Shea. “Stan is feeling a lot better. I wouldn’t normally do this but just because of what people would see on TV, I just want to let everybody know that he called, he says he’s feeling a lot better.”

O’Shea said players needed a moment to “collect their thoughts and look at each other” before rallying for their ailing teammate. A task that is easier said than done after a moment as shaking as that.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen that. We’ve had Stan here for almost my entire time… and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen that,” O’Shea said.

“You could put an easy argument together saying that he’s the best that’s ever played the game at that position… but the next guys come in. We say it all the time, whether you guys believe me or not, if they’re dressed and they’re in our building, they’re gonna give us an opportunity to win a game.”

Bryant’s absence was particularly worrisome for an offensive line already without fellow vet Patrick Neufeld.

Kendall Randolph, playing in his third career game, slid from right guard to Bryant’s spot at left tackle while rookie Gabe Wallace filled in at right guard for his first professional appearance.

That would last a short time.

Things got worse in the second quarter when Wallace went down in a heap with what appeared to be a lower-body injury. He was carted off the field and did not return.

Second-year pro Tui Eli assumed the position at right guard, leaving no more room for injuries along the front five — for the record, if someone else did go down, O’Shea said defensive lineman Jake Thomas would be the next man up.

The Bombers would go on to concede three sacks on the night, though, not all of them can be pinned on the offensive line. The big men up front also paved the way for 165 rushing yards, 120 of which were accounted for by running back Brady Oliveira alone.

Centre Chris Kolankowski praised his fellow linemen for standing strong amid a chaotic night.

“To be able to go from right guard to tackle in your first ever CFL game was absolutely amazing,” Kolankowski said of Randolph. “Honestly, can’t be more proud of the way Kendall’s played at guard and at tackle when he got called to it.”

Kolankowski later agreed that it was hot, and “especially humid and muggy” on the field.

Bryant’s durability over his eight-year career is not up for question. The four-time Most Outstanding Lineman has started every game — save for a pair of meaningless Week 18 contests over the last two seasons — since joining the Bombers in 2015. He’s a rock in the team’s locker room.

“I mean, Stan is one of my best friends, I’d say. I love the guy,” said Zach Collaros. “He’s such a great person, great teammate, great father, so it’s tough… everybody, you could see the level of concern from our bench. He’s been here for so long, everybody calls him uncle.

“He knows we love him,” he continued. “It’s troubling when a friend isn’t feeling well like that.”

An equally respected competitor, Stanley’s absence was felt on the opposite sideline.

“We felt it last week with our guys going down as well, so I know it definitely hurt them a lot,” said Ti-Cats defensive end Nick Usher. “And for me to be a friend of Stanley Bryant, it kind of hit me, too. It was tough to see him go down, but I just hope he’s all right and I hope he’s well.”

Unfortunately for the Bombers, Bryant and Wallace are just the latest in what’s been a season-long saga with the injury bug.

Sure, ailments are a part of football, but it’s hard to argue any team has been forced to navigate this ugly side of the game — in the quantity and quality of players — more than Winnipeg.

O’Shea knows no one feels sorry for his club, though. The only thing he can do is prepare the next man up.

“It’s football,” said O’Shea. You have to be prepared for the next.”

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jfreysam