WINNIPEG 鈥� The Winnipeg Blue Bombers might have a lucky charm that helps pull them out of their funk this week.
Veteran receiver Lucky Whitehead will make his season debut on Thursday when Winnipeg (2-6) hosts the West Division co-leading B.C. Lions (5-2) and tries to snap a two-game losing skid and begin turning its season round.
鈥淚 could be great, a big charm, honestly,鈥� Whitehead said after Wednesday鈥檚 walk-through. 鈥淔rom my game play, my speed, it鈥檚 going to help open up some things for the guys. That鈥檚 what I鈥檓 excited about, for myself to make plays.鈥�
Whitehead began his CFL career with Winnipeg in 2019 and became a fan favourite for his fun-loving nature on and off the field. He then signed with B.C. and played the past three seasons but wasn鈥檛 re-signed. The Blue Bombers inked him to a practice-roster spot in early July.
The Lions鈥� top-ranked offence will also have a talented receiver making his season debut.
Keon Hatcher hasn鈥檛 played since suffering an Achilles injury in B.C.鈥檚 division final loss to Winnipeg last season.
Whitehead said he talks to some of his former Lions teammates such as Hatcher almost every day.
鈥淚t鈥檚 gonna be fun just to see the guys and talk,鈥� Whitehead said. 鈥淭his is obviously a little different, but I鈥檝e been on that sideline before. I know what to expect and I know I鈥檓 gonna get a great welcome back.
鈥淚鈥檓 super excited to just go out there and fly around.鈥�
Hatcher was wishing Whitehead well 鈥� but just to a point.
鈥淚鈥檓 super excited for my guy. I hope he balls out, just don鈥檛 get a win,鈥� Hatcher said with a laugh after arriving in Winnipeg.
His readiness to play is a game earlier than he predicted.
鈥淭he goal I set for myself was actually a game after this because I wanted to give myself 10 games to try to reach 1,000 yards (receiving),鈥� Hatcher said. 鈥淚鈥檓 getting 11, so hopefully I can still make that happen.鈥�
Hatcher was second in the league for receiving yards last year with 1,226 in 16 games. He was named a CFL all-star in his third campaign.
Whitehead gets his chance to run onto the Princess Auto Stadium turf after injuries in Winnipeg鈥檚 16-14 overtime loss to the Toronto Argonauts last Saturday.
Receiver Drew Wolitarsky (shoulder) and offensive lineman Pat Neufeld (knee) were both moved to the six-game injured list, giving the Bombers a league-high 13 players on that list. American guard Kendall Randolph out of the University of Alabama is making his CFL debut in place of Neufeld.
Wolitarsky joined receivers Kenny Lawler (broken arm), Dalton Schoen (anterior cruciate ligament) and Keric Wheatfall (knee) in the infirmary.
Whitehead might get some touches returning kicks with fellow Bombers rookie receiver Kody Case.
鈥淚 was just trying to give (Case) some tips as far as this is what I kind of do when I do kick return,鈥� Whitehead said. 鈥淎nd, obviously, I gave him some tips on B.C. I know what they like to do.鈥�
Both teams鈥� quarterbacks were welcoming the additions to their receiving corps.
鈥淓verybody knows how fast Lucky is,鈥� said Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, who has the lowest passer rating in the league at 81.8. 鈥淎nd with that, a really good energy to the field and the locker room, too. Everybody loves Lucky.鈥�
Collaros, who has 1,723 yards passing with three touchdowns and eight interceptions, was sacked five times in the loss to Toronto. Winnipeg鈥檚 offence also committed five turnovers, one taken in for a TD.
B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. leads the league with 2,395 passing yards in seven games. He鈥檚 tossed 14 TDs and five interceptions and his 108.8 passer rating is ranked second.
The Lions are coming off a bye week after a 25-24 loss to the Calgary Stampeders.
Adams said it was a timely rest. Getting Hatcher back is another boost.
鈥淗e brings leadership, he brings a dawg mentality,鈥� Adams said. 鈥淗e holds everybody accountable to a high standard and that鈥檚 what we love about a guy like that.鈥�
Adams will have added veteran protection as offensive lineman Michael Couture is back on the roster. Couture suffered a back injury in B.C.鈥檚 season-opening game. He signed with the Lions last year after six seasons with the Bombers.
B.C. Lions (5-2) AT WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (2-6)
Thursday, Princess Auto Stadium.
REST WORKS: The Lions are 4-1 after a bye week since 2022. This season, CFL teams are 6-1 coming off a break.
DEFENCE IS DOING IT: Winnipeg鈥檚 defence has allowed just one TD over its last two games.
ON A ROLL: B.C. placekicker Sean Whyte鈥檚 current field-goal streak is a team-record 42 in a row.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2024.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
