Star running back Harris eager for season debut as Blue Bombers host Stampeders
It's better late than never for Andrew Harris.
The star running back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-1) will make his season debut Sunday at home against the Calgary Stampeders (1-2) after missing the first three games of the year with a calf injury.
Harris was hurt early in training camp and said the wait was "agonizing," especially since last season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"When COVID comes and you have a slow start to camp and you miss some games, time just ticks on very slowly," Harris, 34, said Saturday after the Bombers wrapped up their preparations.
"I'm very excited just to get out there, take that first carry, catch that first ball, make that first block and just be out there with the guys again."
He doesn't think it'll take him long to get into a groove.
"The biggest thing now is just my eyes, my vision," Harris said. "You know it's going to be a whole different speed come (Sunday), so it's going to take maybe a couple series, honestly, to kind of get in the swing of things.
"But I'm definitely ready for that and expecting that and I'm sure I'll be hitting full stride fairly shortly after we get rolling."
Getting back the CFL's rushing leader for the past three seasons -- and the most valuable player in the 2019 Grey Cup -- was welcome news for Harris's teammates, especially quarterback Zach Collaros.
"Having Andrew back out there, it's big for everybody," Collaros said. "I think it's big for the city.
"Everybody knows and loves Andrew and what he can bring to the table, and just his understanding of what we do offensively definitely helps."
Winnipeg's run game has stalled lately. Fellow Winnipegger Brady Oliviera rushed for 126 yards in his first start at tailback in the season opener, but he was held to a combined 57 yards in the past two games against Toronto, including last week's 30-23 loss to the Argonauts.
The Bombers have also moved placekicker Tyler Crapigna to the six-game injured list so Canadian rookie Marc Liegghio handle kicking and punting duties Sunday.
Head coach Mike O'Shea said Crapigna suffered a soft tissue injury (listed as a hamstring) in practice and missed Friday's session.
Crapigna was 3-of-5 in field-goal attempts -- the longest he made was 22 yards -- but he wasn't sent out to try many long kicks.
O'Shea said Liegghio had success with Western University and he has "full confidence" in the fifth-round CFL draft pick.
Stampeders rookie quarterback Jake Maier will make his second CFL start Sunday after replacing injured veteran Bo Levi Mitchell (broken leg).
Maier shook off two early interceptions last week and guided the Stampeders out of an 11-point deficit to a 28-22 win over Montreal. He was 16-of-29 passing for 304 yards with the two picks and one touchdown.
"You have to be able to analyze why certain things didn't go your way, why certain plays didn't work, why you failed in certain areas and grow from that," the 24-year-old California native said.
Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson said quarterbacks have to be free to make some plays, but he'd like the offence to improve in one particular area.
"Ball security, 100 per cent," he said. "We also snapped one on the wrong count and we just can't do that against Winnipeg, we won't win the game."
Maier is well aware that Winnipeg's dominant defence will try to throw him off the game plan.
"They have the true identity of rushing the passer and they believe in what they're doing," he said. "You can see that just with the body language and the swagger that they all have.
"There's things that we can do to help slow that down a little bit. We're going to need to. We've got to be able to at least limit what their greatest strength is."
The Bombers lead the league in fewest points allowed this season at 14.3.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 28, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
The Indian couple killed in a wrong-way police chase crash on Highway 401 earlier this week has been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
2 charged after police find 'concerning and diverse' explosives at Manitoba home
Winnipeg police say they have arrested two people in their 20s after a large amount of explosives were found in a home outside of Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Spain abolishes national bullfighting award in cultural shift
Spain scrapped an annual bullfighting award on Friday, prompting a rebuke from conservatives over a backlash against a centuries-old tradition they see as an art form but which has run into growing concern for animal welfare.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.