Adams amps up attitude

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/10/2016 (2739 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After three months away from the gridiron, Darvin Adams was happy to be on the practice field Tuesday.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver, who went down with an upper-body injury — believed to be a broken collarbone — in the team’s 30-23 win over the Edmonton Eskimos in July, took several first-team reps in the early going of Tuesday’s practice at the football field adjacent to the University of Manitoba soccer complex.

“I’m just happy to be out here today and participate with my teammates,” Adams said. “It’s been a long time. It just felt great to go in the huddle and get a head-butt from an O-lineman.”

Adams led the team with 503 receiving yards through the season’s first six weeks before getting injured. His three touchdowns were a team-best at the time, and he is currently second on the team with two games remaining. Receiver Clarence Denmark leads the Bombers with eight majors.

For quarterback Matt Nichols, Adams’ return means an added playmaker to the receiving corps.

“He’s a guy that makes plays when it looks like it’s not there,” Nichols said. “He’s an attitude difference-maker for us. He’ll run a guy over or make a big block and get everyone excited. He just kind of changes everyone’s attitude. In the middle of the game, you can feel like there’s a little bit of a lull, and he’ll make a crazy play or run someone over and get everyone fired up. It rolls from there.

“Everyone else sees what he’s doing and wants to be doing the same thing. He improves our team just by even being around, being out there on the field.”

Meanwhile, Canadian offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld suited up Tuesday for the first time since being placed on the six-game injured list in July. Neufeld took reps at right guard in place of Sukh Chungh, who pulled up lame in the Bombers’ 35-32 win over the B.C. Lions on Oct. 14.

Maurice Leggett, who is tied with fellow Bomber T.J. Heath for the Canadian Football League lead in interceptions with seven, was a full participant in practice. Leggett was injured in the third quarter and was forced to leave the Bombers’ Oct. 8 match with the Lions at Investors Group Field. He returned in the dying seconds to make a crucial, game-saving tackle that helped the club to a 37-35 win. He did not suit up the following week in Vancouver.

Linebacker Ian Wild did not practise. The fourth-year Bomber has missed four of the past five games.

As per usual, Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea reminded media members certain players need not practise to be available for the 46-man roster on game day. Wild and Chungh are on that list. Their status for Saturday afternoon’s game against the Ottawa Redblacks at Investors Group Field will likely not be determined for a few days.

— Scott Billeck