Receiver Thorpe leaves the Bombers

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This article was published 19/09/2017 (2409 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After a promising start with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, T.J. Thorpe has decided to pursue his football career somewhere else.

Thorpe, after spending the past month on the practice roster, made the decision to walk away from the team. The Bombers issued a statement early Wednesday finalizing the release, ending what had been a short but productive stint for the 24-year-old receiver.

“He was on the practice roster and he chose to leave,” head coach Mike O’Shea said following the team’s practice. “When you are on the practice roster you don’t have a contract.”

O’Shea seemed visibly upset by the decision, giving one- and two-word answers.

“I thought he had a role on this team, but it’s all right,” he said.

Bombers offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice once compared Thorpe to Arland Bruce III, a former standout receiver in the CFL who started a stellar 13-year career in Winnipeg.

In six games with Winnipeg, Thorpe registered 33 catches for 302 yards — an average of 9.2 yards per grab. After a series of injuries to start the year, Thorpe made his debut in Week 5 on the road against the B.C. Lions, making eight catches for 65 yards.

He recorded at least five catches in each of his next four games, before a rare off-performance — two catches for 13 yards and a lost fumble — in a win over the Alouettes in Week 10. The return of Weston Dressler from injury led to his eventual benching. The emergence of running back Timothy Flanders also didn’t help him.

With Thorpe gone, the Bombers likely will look to add another import receiver. Winnipeg still has imports Ryan Lankford — who has been used sparingly as a receiver while also handling punt return duties — and L’Damian Washington on the practice roster.

Before joining the Bombers, Thorpe spent time in the NFL with the Washington Redskins. He played his senior season in college at the University of Virginia in 2015, where he started five games and had 23 catches for 321 yards and one touchdown.

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The Bombers say they aren’t fooled by the dismal 5-7-1 record of the Ottawa Redblacks ahead of Friday’s game at Investors Group Field.

The Redblacks have won four of their past five games to slip into first place in a sorry East Division. LaPolice expects the Bombers offence will have their hands full against a stingy defence that has allowed 18 or fewer points in three of their last four victories.

“Most pressures in the Canadian Football League — tied for first — so they pressure the quarterback very well,” LaPolice said. “They play man (coverage) very well; they’re a good, sound defence and I have a lot of respect for them and our players do, too.”

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With starting quarterback Trevor Harris out due to injury and backup Drew Tate also banged up — he’s expected to dress but not play Friday — the Redblacks will turn to third-stringer Ryan Lindley.

Lindley, 28, bounced around the NFL for a few years before signing with Ottawa in February. He played last week when he replaced Tate midway through a win over the Alouettes, finishing the game with 7-for-14 passing for 76 yards and an interception.

The Bombers defence, which ranks among the worst in the CFL in points and yards against, will not be taking Lindley’s inexperience for granted.

“They can bring Warren Moon back, they can bring Dieter Brock back,” joked Bombers defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall. “If we do what we’re supposed to do then we give ourselves a chance to win.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

After a slew of injuries playing hockey that included breaks to the wrist, arm, and collar bone; a tear of the medial collateral ligament in both knees; as well as a collapsed lung, Jeff figured it was a good idea to take his interest in sports off the ice and in to the classroom.

   Read full biography