The Winnipeg Blue Bombers lost another key player early in their game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday. Midway through Winnipeg’s first drive, veteran offensive lineman Stanley Bryant was taken off the field on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to the hospital for what the Bombers termed “further evaluation.”
Bryant went down on both knees after a play, eventually tried to walk off the field with help, only to go down on his knee again. He wasn’t favouring any particular area, and after being placed on the gurney he was hooked up to an IV. Teammates gathered around him and after a total delay of more than 15 minutes, the 38-year-old was finally wheeled off the field toward the ambulance area, a towel draped over his head. At one point he raised his water bottle, apparently to acknowledge the applauding crowd of more than 32,000, Winnipeg’s first sellout of the season.
Environment Canada had issued a heat warning with a game-time temperature of 25C and a humidex of 31C.
By the end of the first half, the Bombers updated Bryant’s condition on social media. “Stanley Bryant is alert and is currently undergoing further evaluation at the hospital,” the update said. “He is stable and with team medical personnel.”
Bryant is a perennial all-star who’s won the CFL Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award a record four times.
A Wave of Injuries
The Bombers have been hit hard by injuries this season, with several starters taking turns on the six-game injured list, most recently linebacker Adam Bighill. One, star receiver Dalton Schoen, is already lost for the season with a knee injury.
Before halftime, Bryant’s replacement on the offensive line, Gabe Wallace, had also suffered an injury and had to be carted off the field. That left no extra linemen on the Winnipeg roster, as the team dresses just two backups. The Bombers will likely need to call up players from their practice roster to fill the void.
The Injury
Following a play early in the first quarter, Bryant took a knee and was attended to by the team’s training staff. After briefly trying to walk off the field, the 38-year-old went back down to one knee and a stretcher was brought out by the medical team. Bryant received further attention, including an IV, before leaving the field.
Bryant was tended to by paramedics inside an ambulance at Princess Auto Stadium for 25 minutes before the vehicle left the premises, according to TSN's John Lu. It is unclear what exactly caused the injury, but the fact that Bryant was taken to the hospital for further evaluation suggests that it was serious.
The Aftermath
The loss of Bryant is a significant blow to the Bombers. He is a key part of their offensive line and his absence will be felt. The team will need to find a way to overcome the loss of Bryant and Wallace and continue to compete for a championship. The Bombers are hoping for a speedy recovery for both players and that they will be back on the field soon.
The Blue Bombers ultimately lost to the Tiger-Cats 20-18. Despite the loss and a growing injury list, the Bombers will need to focus on their next game and hope for a faster recovery for their injured players.
