WINNIPEG — After injuring his thumb in the Banjo Bowl, Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Ryan Smith could get the thumbs up to play against the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday. But a final determination on his status still hasn’t been made and it sounds like the athletic therapist will get the final say.
“No I can’t lock him in,” said head coach Mike O’Shea. “I got to talk to Al (Couture) and see where things end up.”
Even in Smith’s absence the offence continued to take a giant step forward last week. Last time out against the Toronto Argonauts the Bombers scored a season high 46 points, but the Stamps defence will provide a much stiffer test.
“To be the best, you have to beat the best and right now they’re 10-1-1 and they’re the best record in the league,” said quarterback Matt Nichols.
Not only have the Stampeders scored the most points in the CFL this season, but their defence is also ranked tops in the league.
“Both teams have great offences and great defences so something is going to have to give,” Nichols said. “It might be a shootout, it might be a 17 to 10 game. Who knows what it’s going to be like. We just know it’s going to be a close one.”
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The status of running back Andrew Harris and returner Quincy McDuffie is also still up in the air and both could end up as game time decisions.
WATCH: Mike O’Shea Media Briefing – Sept. 22