Feeling better: Bryant back at practice after ankle injury

Winnipeg Free Press

7 days ago

There are few things Stanley Bryant has yet to experience in a career that will eventually be immortalized in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Standing on the field in street clothes for a month in the middle of a season was one of those things, and he hopes it never happens again.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers' star left tackle returned to practice on Monday for the first time since exiting the club's Week 5 contest against the Calgary Stampeders.
Bryant said he 'tweaked' his ankle in the first half and played through it until, presumably, the pain became too much to bear. He left in the fourth quarter, long after the game had gotten out of hand.
'Just something that happened right before the half. Fought through it a little bit and just decided to come out, and just been dealing with it so far,' Bryant said, after the Bombers' first practice in preparation for their final meeting with the Stampeders in Calgary on Saturday (7 p.m. CT).
'Everything is feeling better. Back to normal. Back to the same old.'
That sounds like a player who is gearing up to play, even if Bryant gave the Bomber-like, 'We'll see,' shortly after.
Bryant has missed multiple games in a season before, but never three in a row. While being on the sidelines ate away at him, it did provide a brief glimpse into what life could look like after the 39-year-old's playing days are over.
'It was a very different perspective. I've never missed that much time before in my career,' he said. 'So just sitting back — kind of in coach mode, it felt like — helping guys out, seeing things from a different point of view. I think it helped. I helped on the sideline as much as I could.
'I mean, it was cool, but not something that I'm ready to join yet.'
'Everything is feeling better. Back to normal. Back to the same old.'– Blue Bomber left tackle Stanley Bryant
The offensive line has played well in Bryant's absence. His replacement, Micah Vanterpool, started the first two contests at left tackle but also missed last week with an ankle injury. Down their top two options, the team asked Eric Lofton, historically a right tackle, to flip to the opposite side of the line.
The Bombers have allowed nine sacks without Bryant in the lineup, but have continued to open up lanes for running back Brady Oliveira, who is averaging 5.17 yards per carry this season.
'Just guys trying to get in the groove. Get the run game going, protect, just doing everything better. Win our one-on-ones, just be the physical group that we are,' Bryant said of what he noticed in the offensive unit while sidelined.
'We had some guys step in positions for the first time, and it's just going to take some adjustments, but I think guys are getting equated to everything.'
Joining Bryant back on the practice field were several notable names: quarterback Zach Collaros, who missed last week's contest with a neck injury; running back Peyton Logan, who hasn't practised since sustaining a thigh injury on the third day of training camp; defensive lineman Jamal Woods, who is on the six-game injured list; and long-snapper Mike Benson, who hasn't played since suffering a hip injury in the club's season-opener in Week 2.
Collaros' participation early in the week leaves plenty of room for optimism about his chances of suiting up in Calgary this week. Head coach Mike O'Shea said it's a situation the team will continue to monitor.
'I think with these types of things, we're always gonna check in with him after practice, check with him again in the morning, and trust the player and trust (head athletic therapist) Al (Couture) and his staff — best in the league. So, let them work.'
'It was a very different perspective. I've never missed that much time before in my career.'– Stanley Bryant
There were also numerous notable players not practising on Monday, beginning with defensive back Jamal Parker Jr., who walked with a dramatic limp and a crutch supporting his left leg.
Parker Jr. was injured in the third quarter of last week's contest against Toronto. He missed all of 2024 with a torn ACL.
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Defensive tackle Cam Lawson and defensive back Redha Kramdi also didn't practice, but O'Shea's lack of concern around both players would suggest Monday was a maintenance day. Meanwhile, defensive back Evan Holm was excused from the session.
In receiver news, Dalton Schoen (knee) was running by himself in the end zone before practice started. He ended his brief session by cutting left and right to test both legs a few times. While he wasn't running at full speed, it was another promising step in his recovery.
Meanwhile, Dillon Mitchell saw several reps with the first-team offence. Mitchell primarily aligned at wideout on the weak side of the formation, while Keric Wheatfall bumped into the slot.
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Joshua Frey-SamReporter
Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh.
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