‘We’ve got a lot of choices we can make’

Depending on which lens you were looking through, Dalton Schoen standing in street clothes during Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice on Sunday could’ve been a good thing or a bad thing.

On one hand, sitting for the first session after a bye week would typically indicate his injury is more serious than the other bumps and bruises that accumulate during a season. On the other hand, it opens up a world of hope for Bombers fans that he avoided the worst.

The star receiver exited Winnipeg’s Week 5 loss against the Calgary Stampeders in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be a non-contact injury to his left knee. An ordinary play saw Schoen leap off his left foot to catch a pass and land on his right foot momentarily before his momentum took him to the turf.

The one note of optimism at the time was that he walked off the field under his own power, but that didn’t rule out the possibility of an injury that could cost him multiple games.

Schoen took part in warm-ups but gingerly walked around the field, favouring his left leg for the rest of practice.

“I’m not concerned,” said head coach Mike O’Shea, who tends to keep his true feelings about an injured player under wraps. “It’s football. We’ll see. We’ll give him every opportunity and see.”

Schoen, who has appeared in all four games, has 17 receptions for 197 yards and one touchdown this season. The 28-year-old missed most of last season with a torn ACL.

When Schoen exited the game, the optics of the aftermath on the sideline weren’t promising. There was concerning body language from some teammates, including receiver Nic Demski, who embraced his running mate and quietly shared a few words with Schoen.

“We exchanged some words,” said Demski, who couldn’t remember all the details of that moment. “We always just try to keep a high, positive mindset around here, so probably put out a prayer, but at the end of the day, it’s just two buddies being positive.”

Second-year receiver Kody Case ran with the first team offence in Schoen’s place. Rookie pass-catcher Joey Corcoran also saw a few snaps with the top unit.

The 26-year-old Case, who has one catch for five yards in his professional career, was the Bombers’ primary returner for three games last season before spending the rest of the year on the practice roster.

“It’s great anytime you’re on a football field, you just feel at home. So just ready to get back out there, if that’s what’s gonna happen,” he said.

Case is currently on the practice roster, meaning a spot would need to open up on the active roster for him to play against the Stampeders at Princess Auto Stadium on Friday (7:30 p.m.).

While Case got some runs, perhaps the more notable takeaway was who wasn’t on the field with the top offence.

Veteran American receiver Dillon Mitchell remained with the scout team, as his tumultuous stint with the Bombers continued. The 28-year-old was the club’s prized free-agent signing during the off-season, but a disappointing training camp pushed him down the depth chart, and he has yet to suit up for a regular-season contest.

“Everybody’s an option. We’ve got a lot of choices we can make, and where a guy runs on Day 1, I don’t think is a real indicator of everything that goes on.”– Blue Bomber head coach Mike O’Shea

One reason Mitchell might not get a serious look is that he profiles as a perimeter weapon rather than a slot receiver. The 6-1, 185-pounder primarily lined up out wide to the weak side of the formation during his three seasons with the Edmonton Elks, so reclaiming that position would mean Keric Wheatfall or Kevens Clercius comes out of the lineup.

On the other hand, Mitchell was paid like a premier weapon (around $155,000), so thrusting him into the lineup shouldn’t depend on the position.

“Everybody’s an option,” said O’Shea. “We’ve got a lot of choices we can make, and where a guy runs on Day 1, I don’t think is a real indicator of everything that goes on.

“Kody Case, if you watched training camp, had an excellent camp and unfortunately got nicked up. We liked him as a returner. As a receiver, he came in and showed that he put the work in in the off-season and was really comfortable with the playbook. I mean, all these things add up to him taking some reps today, too.”

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jfreysam