Latest news with #StanleyBryant
CTV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Veteran quarterbacks Collaros, Adams poised to return to their respective teams
The Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers should have their offensive leaders back when they square off Saturday night at McMahon Stadium. Calgary starter Vernon Adams Jr. (head) was a full participant in practice Tuesday after missing the Stampeders' 31-11 loss to Ottawa last week. Ditto for veteran Bombers quarterback Zack Collaros (neck) after Chris Streveler got the start in Winnipeg's 40-31 win over Toronto on Friday night. This will mark the third meeting of the season between the West Division rivals, with Calgary (5-3) having won the previous two contests. The Stampeders are looking for their first series sweep of the Blue Bombers (4-3) since 2016. Calgary is also chasing its first victory in three games after consecutive losses to Montreal and Ottawa. Canadian receiver Clark Barnes (ankle) was a full participant in practice for the Stamps and could be available but Damien Alford (hamstring) was limited. Calgary has been solid 3-0 within its division while Winnipeg is 3-2. But since 2022 the Bombers are 7-3 versus the Stampeders, with Collaros sporting a 10-8 career record against them. What's more, veteran offensive lineman Stanley Bryant (ankle) was a full participant in practice Tuesday for the Bombers. Calgary will also have to be wary of Bombers returner Trey Vaval, who last week became the first Winnipeg player to return a punt and kickoff for touchdowns in the same game. Also, defensive lineman Willie Jefferson had four pass knockdowns, one short of the league record, and has 85 overall, good for third in CFL history behind Adrion Smith (90) and Eddie Davis (111). Last week's win halted a three-game losing streak for Winnipeg. Calgary's defence has been solid, having allowed just 18.8 offensive points per game and 11 offensive touchdowns — both league lows. Stampeders receiver Dominique Rhymes has scored touchdowns in each of his past three games. Facing Winnipeg has agreed with Adams Jr., who has thrown for 489 yards and five touchdowns in the previous two matchups. Adams Jr. has a career 6-3 record against the Bombers. Pick: Calgary. --- B.C. Lions versus Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Thursday night) At Hamilton, the Ticats (6-2) chase a seventh straight victory and second in as many meetings with B.C. (3-5). CFL passing leader Bo Levi Mitchell had 389 yards passing with three TDs in a 37-33 win over the Lions at B.C. Place Stadium on July 27. Kiondre Smith had 14 receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns in that contest. Lions running back James Butler ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns against his former team and comes in as the CFL's leading rusher with 619 yards (5.5-yard average) and five touchdowns. The Lions average a league-best 5.7 yards per rush while the Ticats allow a CFL-high 5.4 yards per carry. B.C. also comes off the bye week — its last contest being the loss to the Ticats — and has won its last two games in Hamilton. Pick: B.C. --- Edmonton Elks versus Montreal Alouettes (Friday night) At Montreal, McLeod Bethel-Thompson of the Alouettes (6-2) and Cody Fajardo of Edmonton (1-6) face their former teams for the first time since being dealt for each other this winter. Bethel-Thompson is 1-2 versus Edmonton but Tyler Snead had 14 catches for 191 yards in his last two games for the Alouettes. Fajardo, who led the Als to the '23 Grey Cup, is 4-1 all-time versus the East Division squad. In his two starts this season, Fajardo has completed 79.3 per cent of his passes for 603 yards with three TDs and an interception. Pick: Edmonton. --- Ottawa Redblacks versus Toronto Argonauts (Saturday afternoon) At Toronto, the Argos (2-6) look to continue their mastery of the Redblacks (2-6), having won 19 of the previous 25 matchups since Ottawa entered the CFL in 2014. Starter Nick Arbuckle is second overall in passing yards (2,334) and TDs (13) but the Argos have allowed a league-high 23 sacks. Ottawa starter Dru Brown threw for 225 yards and two TDs in last week's win over Calgary with veteran receiver Eugene Lewis registering five catches for 110 yards, his 20th career 100-yard receiving performance. The Redblacks' defence did its part with three interceptions. The Argos are 1-3 within the East Division while Ottawa is 0-4. Pick: Toronto. Last week: 3-1. Overall: 21-14. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2025. Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Feeling better: Bryant back at practice after ankle injury
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. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 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. X: @jfreysam 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. Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Feeling better: Stanley back at practice after ankle injury
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. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 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. X: @jfreysam 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. Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
