Brady Oliveira is able to be within the highlight once more.
The Blue Bombers working again will make his fourth begin of the season rather than injured Andrew Harris when Winnipeg hosts the B.C. Lions Saturday in a key recreation for the house group.
The 9-1 Bombers have gained seven straight video games and will safe first place within the CFL West Division with a victory over the 4-5 Lions, who’re on a three-game shedding skid.
“With me taking part in earlier within the season, my soccer IQ has grown, my eyes are seeing issues lots higher within the run recreation,” Oliveira mentioned after Friday’s walk-through.
“Guys are excited for me and I’m excited to go on the market and make some performs.”
Harris was positioned on the six-game injured checklist Friday after he harm a knee within the second quarter of final week’s 26-16 victory over Edmonton. Oliveira went in and rushed 16 instances for 105 yards.
Oliveira additionally began the primary three video games of the season when fellow Winnipeg-born Harris was out with a calf damage. Oliveira has 61 carries for 300 yards however no touchdowns this season.
Head coach Mike O’Shea mentioned Harris, 34, might at all times be pulled off the six-game checklist early, however the 24-year-old Oliveria and backup Johnny Augustine are ready replacements.
“Full confidence in Brady and Johnny,” mentioned O’Shea, whose group has a bye subsequent week. “They’ve each confirmed after they’ve gotten their alternatives that they’ll deal with the load.”
B.C. head coach Rick Campbell has additionally been impressed by Oliveira.
“He certain appears good when he is available in there,” Campbell mentioned. “The instances I’ve seen him in there, they don’t appear to overlook a beat.”
A couple of eventualities this weekend aside from a win over the Lions might nonetheless give the Bombers a house recreation at IG Subject within the West last Dec. 5.
If B.C. beats Winnipeg and Saskatchewan (5-4) loses to Calgary (5-5) Saturday, the Bombers will nonetheless clinch prime spot. The outcome would even be the identical if B.C. defeats Winnipeg by lower than 21 factors and the Roughriders defeat the Stampeders.
Regardless of that reward proper in entrance of them, the defending Gray Cup-champion Bombers weren’t specializing in the playoff situation.
“I feel it’s essential to win each recreation that you just’re part of and to deal with all of them the identical,” Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros mentioned.
The Bombers haven’t misplaced at house this season (5-0), whereas the Lions have a 3-1 highway document.
Quarterback Michael Reilly mentioned he treats each recreation as a must-win regardless of the place the Lions sit within the standings.
“I don’t notably concern myself with mathematically what we now have to do right here or there,” Reilly mentioned. “We’ve received to come back out and play a very good recreation in opposition to a division opponent.
“It’s far too quickly to be panicked about what we now have to do for this week for post-season.”
The highest factor Reilly is anxious about for Saturday is getting his offence on a roll after a 39-10 loss to Calgary final week.
He is aware of Winnipeg’s defence, which has allowed a league-low common of 12.6 factors per recreation, will make {that a} robust job.
“They constantly carry it each single recreation, proper? I feel that’s the largest factor,” Reilly mentioned.
“Just about each group that you just play in opposition to on this league at all times has the power to come back out and have a stellar evening. It’s simply onerous to place collectively each single time that you just get on the sphere and so they have finished an awesome job of that.”
© 2021 The Canadian Press
https://globalnews.ca/information/8290809/bombers-running-back-oliveira-spotlight-winnipeg-bc-lions/ | Bombers working again Oliveira prepared for highlight as Winnipeg hosts B.C. Lions – Winnipeg