Ka’Deem Carey. Derek Dennis. Jameer Thurman.
Some big names were missing from the first day of the work week for the Calgary Stampeders on Monday morning.
Running back Carey, offensive lineman Dennis and linebacker Thurman are the type of players the Stamps (4-1) need if they’ve got any chance of knocking off the mighty Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-0) when they square off on Saturday at McMahon Stadium (5 p.m., TSN/770 CHQR).
Before anyone could ring the alarm bells, though, head coach Dave Dickenson offered an explanation of sorts for the absences.
“We had some travel issues and what I try to do normally is make this day one day earlier, because it happens and things go down,” Dickenson said. “I’m hopeful everyone will be back in tomorrow, but we did have multiple people (missing).
“It was disappointing, but we’ve got to make sure they talk with their coaches and get going. We did treat this like Day A, we didn’t worry about the opponent. The tough part is not having enough people competing out there. I thought it was a pretty laid-back practice. Didn’t really get enough out of it.”
Monday’s on-field sessions was officially labelled as a walkthrough, so the Stamps will begin their normal weekly routine of a three-day practice week on Tuesday morning. They’ll have another walkthrough Friday before taking on the Bombers on Saturday.
Because it was a walkthrough, it would normally not be entirely surprising that a couple of the Stamps’ most experienced veterans were absent, although the fact that it was coming off a bye week certainly raised a few eyebrows among the media contingent at McMahon. Everyone around the team is presumably pretty well-rested, after all.
Because the Stamps held a walkthrough, they weren’t required to provide the injury reports they normally send out a couple of hours after practice. It’s not exactly a surprise that there were travel issues, either. This is the summer of 2022, after all. Travel issues are essentially guaranteed for everyone.
It definitely wasn’t all bad news for the Stamps, though.
For the first time since training camp, starting SAM Branden Dozier was back in the mix and participating with his teammates.
Dozier has been on the six-game injured list with a calf injury. He was a difference-maker last season both in the defensive backfield and on special teams, so getting him back would be a big boost, especially with a rematch of last weekend’s thoroughly physical and entertaining game against the reigning champion Bombers on tap.
“He’s practising,” Dickenson said. “We’ve got multiple guys that are on their sixth game (on the injured list). If they’re healthy and we need them, they’ll play. Not sure where we’re at with Doz. I do want him to see where he can go.”
Post a Comment