Blue Bombers’ OL Stanley Bryant taken to Winnipeg hospital after being stretchered off field

Photo: David Mahussier/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ left tackle Stanley Bryant was stretchered off the field early in the first quarter of Friday night’s game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after suffering an apparent medical event.

The 38-year-old was taken to a Winnipeg area hospital for further evaluation. The Blue Bombers provided the following update towards the end of the second quarter.

“Stanley Bryant is alert and is currently undergoing further evaluation at the hospital. He is stable and with team medical personnel.”

Bryant initially got up after blocking on a three-yard run by Brady Oliveira but took a knee while making his way back to the huddle. He received attention from medical staff and briefly tried to leave the field under his own power before a stretcher was called, taking him away with a towel over his face and an IV in his arm. Winnipeg’s bench emptied to see him off and he received a standing ovation from the crowd.

It was 24 degrees at Princess Auto Stadium for kickoff. However, the 62 percent humidity meant it felt closer to 31 degrees. Environment Canada issued a heat warning for the area on Thursday, indicating that the humid airmass could pose a threat to life or property.

Head coach Mike O’Shea, who is notoriously tight-lipped about injuries, provided a positive update on his player after the game, blaming the situation on a combination of heat and illness.

“Stan is feeling a lot better. I wouldn’t normally [discuss injuries with the media] but because of what people would see on TV, I just want to let everybody know that he called, he says he’s feeling a lot better,” he said. “(It was) a combination, I think, of the heat and being sick — I think he was sick all week — and a short week. I just think it all added up to him not feeling good for a second.”

Bryant is arguably the greatest offensive lineman in CFL history, having won a record four Most Outstanding Offensive Linemen awards. He’s also ultra-durable, starting 148 of a possible 151 career games since joining the Blue Bombers as a free agent in 2015. He was a healthy scratch for the three games he missed, all of which came late in the season after Winnipeg had clinched first place in the West Division.

Winnipeg defeated Hamilton 26-23 thanks to a last-minute touchdown pass from Zach Collaros to Kenny Lawler.