Advertisement 1

'We will miss him a lot': Harris's playoff status in doubt for Bombers

Article content

He was the story of the 2019 Grey Cup, the first player ever named the most valuable player and most valuable Canadian.

Advertisement 2
Story continues below
Article content

And he helped end his hometown team’s 28-year Grey Cup drought, to boot.

But there’s a very real chance Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Andrew Harris won’t take part in this year’s CFL playoffs.

Article content

Out with a knee injury suffered in the Bombers’ 10th game of the season, Harris, 34, didn’t take part in practice as the team returned to the field on Friday.

“We’re not far enough along yet to assess whether this is going to happen or not,” head coach Mike O’Shea said. “He’s a fierce competitor. You always like those guys on your roster, for sure. We’ll see if it can happen or not.”

Harris missed the start of the season, too, playing just seven of Winnipeg’s 14 games.

He still rolled up 623 yards, ranking fifth in the league.

The Bombers identity two years ago was all about defence and the run game.

Advertisement 3
Story continues below
Article content

And while Brady Oliveira, who also missed Friday’s practice, and Johnny Augustine have filled in admirably, they aren’t Harris.

So that playoff identity may have to change.

“We’re just going to play team ball,” O-lineman Jermarcus Hardrick said. “We have a lot of great guys behind him, but we have a great guy at quarterback. We miss him a lot. But we’ve got some guys that make you not miss him as much.”

Zach Collaros gives the Bombers a vertical passing threat, but playoff weather often calls for a punishing, straight-ahead ground game, tailor-made for Harris.

Hardrick acknowledged it’s also hard to replace the knowledge Harris has accumulated through 11 CFL seasons.

“It’s just the unspoken things,” Hardrick said. “You never want to leave any stone unturned. But it’s not perfect. Sometimes a stone is unturned… there’s so much going on in a game, if I forget to turn around and tell Andrew something, I just know he’ll be there.”

Advertisement 4
Story continues below
Article content

One thing about his team’s identity that won’t change, Hardrick vowed, is its ability to handle the cold.

Whether it’s No. 33 grinding out yardage or not, Winnipeg is synonymous with frigid football.

A Mississippi product in his seventh CFL season, Hardrick says he had to start winning to get into it.

“I didn’t really play in the cold until I got to Winnipeg,” the five-year Bomber said. “I was in B.C. And the year I was in Sask we went 3-15, so I was already home by now. I got to Winnipeg and I got around some great people… and started winning.

“And it’s not cold enough here. You kind of forget about it.”

Regardless of the weather, the opponent or who’s at running back behind him, Hardrick hopes Bomber fans fill the stadium for the West Final.

“I don’t care who we play,” he said. “I just care that we play in Winnipeg. I care that the fans be here. I don’t know where we’re at right now, but I would love to see a sold-out Winnipeg. And give the fans what they want.”

pfriesen@postmedia.com

Twitter: @friesensunmedia

Article content
Comments
You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.
Join the Conversation

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

Latest National Stories
    News Near Tillsonburg
      This Week in Flyers