They only played one regular season game, but Winnipeg Blue Bombers On Monday, they had to place another player on the six-game injured list.
While it looks like linebacker Adam Bighill will make his season debut this week after suffering a calf injury in training camp, the Bombers will be without star wide receiver Kenny Lawler for an extended period.
Lawler was placed on the six-game injured list after breaking his arm on a seemingly harmless play in the second period of a season-opening loss to the Montreal Alouettes.
Lawler, who practiced Monday with his right arm in a cast, is the team's seventh player to play in six games.
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“Those are always tough,” Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea told reporters Monday. “Because he's got a couple weeks where he can't do what he loves to do, right? He's got to find a different role for himself and we have to help him do that and keep him involved, right, which is very important.
“His teammates will look after him. He will give his all but it's not easy being injured, that's for sure.”
Rookie receiver Kyrick Whitfall spent the first two days of practice week working with the first-team offense in Lawler's place. He was targeted twice but did not catch a single pass in the preseason and spent the first week of the regular season on the practice squad.
“He’s been really good in camp,” offensive coordinator Buck Pierce said. “You know, it’s always a big leap to play in the Canadian Football League for the first time and learn the nuances of the game. But his physicality — he’s very talented, and you can see he’s getting more and more confident.”
Running back Brady Oliveira also remained undetermined after missing practice for a second straight day with a knee injury, but defensive back Reda Crumbly returned to practice after missing Sunday's practice with a hip issue.
The Bombers will look for their first win on Thursday when they travel to the nation’s capital to take on the Ottawa Redblacks, who have a bye in the first week of the season.
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