The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be without star running back Brady Oliveira when they visit the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday.
The league’s reigning Most Outstanding Canadian didn’t practice this week due to a knee injury and was listed on the team’s injury report as questionable. He carried the ball 11 times for 38 yards and caught three passes for 17 yards in the club’s season-opening loss to the Montreal Alouettes.
Johnny Augustine will start in Oliveira’s place. The Guelph product scored Winnipeg’s only touchdown last week, producing 27 yards from scrimmage late in the fourth quarter. The 30-year-old native of Welland, Ont. has rushed for 1,150 yards and two touchdowns and made 15 receptions for 142 yards and one score over his six-year CFL career.
Adam Bighill will make his season debut after missing last week’s game due to an undisclosed injury. The CFL’s three-time Most Outstanding Defensive Player will start at middle linebacker, pushing Kyrie Wilson to his usual spot at weak-side linebacker.
Kenny Lawler, who was placed on the six-game injured list earlier this week, will be replaced by Keric Wheatfall at boundary wide receiver. The six-foot-two, 194-pound native of Brenham, Texas made 78 receptions for 1,286 yards and six touchdowns over three collegiate seasons at Fresno State. He has since had brief stints in the NFL and USFL.
The rest of Winnipeg’s starting lineup remains unchanged from last week.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-1) will visit the Ottawa Redblacks (0-0) at TD Place Stadium on Thursday, June 13 with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. EDT.
