Blue Bombers get Lucky in lineup to face his friends on Lions

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers mightiness person a fortunate charm that helps propulsion them retired of their funk this week.

Veteran receiver Lucky Whitehead will make his play debut connected Thursday erstwhile Winnipeg (2-6) hosts nan West Division co-leading B.C. Lions (5-2) and tries to threat a two-game losing skid and statesman turning its play round.

“I could beryllium great, a large charm, honestly,” Whitehead said aft Wednesday’s walk-through. “From my crippled play, my speed, it’s going to thief unfastened up immoderate things for nan guys. That’s what I’m excited about, for myself to make plays.”

Whitehead began his CFL profession pinch Winnipeg successful 2019 and became a instrumentality favourite for his fun-loving quality connected and disconnected nan field. He past signed pinch B.C. and played nan past 3 seasons but wasn’t re-signed. The Blue Bombers inked him to a believe roster spot successful early July.

The Lions’ top-ranked offence will besides person a talented receiver making his play debut.

Keon Hatcher hasn’t played since suffering an Achilles wounded successful B.C.’s section last nonaccomplishment to Winnipeg past season.

Whitehead said he talks to immoderate of his erstwhile Lions teammates specified arsenic Hatcher almost each day.

“It’s gonna beryllium nosy conscionable to spot nan guys and talk,” Whitehead said. “This is evidently a small different, but I’ve been connected that sideline before. I cognize what to expect and I cognize I’m gonna get a awesome invited back.

“I’m ace excited to conscionable spell retired location and alert around.”

Hatcher was wishing Whitehead good — but conscionable to a point.

“I’m ace excited for my guy. I dream he balls out, conscionable don’t get a win,” Hatcher said pinch a laughter aft arriving successful Winnipeg.

His readiness to play is simply a crippled earlier than he predicted.

“The extremity I group for myself was really a crippled aft this because I wanted to springiness myself 10 games to effort to scope 1,000 yards (receiving),” Hatcher said. “I’m getting 11, truthful hopefully I tin still make that happen.”

Hatcher was 2nd successful nan convention for receiving yards past twelvemonth pinch 1,226 successful 16 games. He was named a CFL all-star successful his 3rd campaign.

Whitehead gets his chance to tally onto nan Princess Auto Stadium turf aft injuries successful Winnipeg’s 16-14 overtime nonaccomplishment to nan Toronto Argonauts past Saturday.

Receiver Drew Wolitarsky (shoulder) and violative lineman Pat Neufeld (knee) were some moved to nan six-game injured list, giving nan Bombers a league-high 13 players connected that list. American defender Kendall Randolph retired of nan University of Alabama is making his CFL debut successful spot of Neufeld.

Wolitarsky joined receivers Kenny Lawler (broken arm), Dalton Schoen (anterior cruciate ligament) and Keric Wheatfall (knee) successful nan infirmary.

Whitehead mightiness get immoderate touches returning kicks pinch chap Bombers rookie receiver Kody Case.

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“I was conscionable trying to springiness (Case) immoderate tips arsenic acold arsenic this is what I benignant of do erstwhile I do footwear return,” Whitehead said. “And, obviously, I gave him immoderate tips connected B.C. I cognize what they for illustration to do.”

Both teams’ quarterbacks were welcoming nan additions to their receiving corps.

“Everybody knows really accelerated Lucky is,” said Bombers backmost Zach Collaros, who has nan lowest passer standing successful nan convention astatine 81.8. “And pinch that, a really bully power to nan section and nan locker room, too. Everybody loves Lucky.”

Collaros, who has 1,723 yards passing pinch 3 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, was sacked 5 times successful nan nonaccomplishment to Toronto. Winnipeg’s offence besides committed 5 turnovers, 1 taken successful for a TD.

B.C. backmost Vernon Adams Jr. leads nan convention pinch 2,395 passing yards successful 7 games. He’s tossed 14 TDs and 5 interceptions and his 108.8 passer standing is classed second.

The Lions are coming disconnected a bye week aft a 25-24 nonaccomplishment to nan Calgary Stampeders.

Adams said it was a timely rest. Getting Hatcher backmost is different boost.

“He brings leadership, he brings a dawg mentality,” Adams said. “He holds everybody accountable to a precocious modular and that’s what we emotion astir a feline for illustration that.”

Adams will person added seasoned protection arsenic violative lineman Michael Couture is backmost connected nan roster. Couture suffered a backmost wounded successful B.C.’s season-opening game. He signed pinch nan Lions past twelvemonth aft six seasons pinch nan Bombers.

B.C. Lions (5-2) astatine Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-6)
Thursday, Princess Auto Stadium.

REST WORKS: The Lions are 4-1 aft a bye week since 2022. This season, CFL teams are 6-1 coming disconnected a break.

DEFENCE IS DOING IT: Winnipeg’s defence has allowed conscionable 1 TD complete its past 2 games.