Aug
Injuries mounting up on Bombers O-Line
Courtesy Winnipeg Free Press:
INJURIES appear to have taken their toll on the Bombers’ offensive line for the first time this season with starting centre Obby Khan and right guard Kelly Bates held out of practice on Tuesday.
Ryan Donnelly worked with the first-team offence at centre while Luke Fritz was in at right guard.
Bates was in full uniform but stood off to the side and watched most drills on Tuesday while Khan was limping around with a pair of braces on his left knee.
“I’m fine and I’ll play. I’ll be back to practice on Thursday, I think,” said Khan. “I got a helmet on the knee in the game and it swelled up but it’s just a bruise and there’s no ligament damage. I’ll play on Saturday.”
Bates was a little less positive about his situation.
“I’ve been told that I’m being sat because I’m very banged up,” said the veteran Bates. “Who doesn’t want to play? Why come out every day if you don’t want to play?”
Coach Mike Kelly explained the situation from his vantage point after practice.
“Obby Khan has a bruised knee so he couldn’t practise and that put Ryan Donnelly in at centre. Prior to practice we had planned on using Ryan at right guard with Obby at centre but with Obby down we had to move Ryan over to centre and put Luke Fritz in at right guard and take a look at that right now,” said Kelly.
Fritz, who has seen no game action his season was pleased to be getting some work
“It’s early in the week and I’m just excited to get some reps with the (No. 1 offence). Just trying to get out there and have fun. I’m looking forward to any chance I can get,” he said.
Shabazz set
Linebacker Siddeeq Shabazz missed last Saturday’s game with a bad ankle but is expected to practise today and if all goes well play on Saturday. Coach Mike Kelly says if Shabazz can play, he will.
Arjei improving
Receiver Arjei Franklin (ankle) continues to improve and is close to a return to action. It won’t happen this week but the club believes the original timetable for his return was too generous and Franklin could be back in weeks rather than months.
New man
The club signed non-import kick returner Michael Hyman to the practice roster on Tuesday. The 5-10, 184-pound Hyman grew up in Mississauga and played his college football at Tallahassee Community College. Hyman spent part of last season on the Toronto Argos’ practice roster.
