Will Schoen, Bighill suit up for Bombers?

The Dalton Schoen and Adam Bighill watch is going down to the wire.

Winnipeg released its depth chart for Sunday’s Grey Cup at Tim Hortons Field against the Montreal Alouettes and Schoen, their leading receiver, and Bighill, their veteran linebacker, were listed as game-time decisions.

“I think everybody can agree, we would all like to see them play,” Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea told reporters Saturday. “I mean, they’re two of the best players you’re going to see on the field so why would we try to limit them?

NICK IWANYSHYN / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Ailing Blue Bombers linebacker Adam Bighill watches on the sidelines during practice in Hamilton, Ont., Thursday. Bighill was injured in the Western Final and hasn’t practised this week.

“They’re fighting a courageous battle right now trying to do everything they can to get back on.”

Schoen (ankle) and Bighill (calf) weren’t at the stadium for Saturday’s walk-through and neither one has been made available to speak to the media all week.

“I think we do a really great job at preparing not just our starters, but everybody,” said quarterback Zach Collaros.

“I was talking to Adam last night about how much it means for him just to be here and just his voice, whether that’s on the field, or on the sideline or during practice and I feel the same way about Dalton.”

The Als aren’t celebrating the fact that the Bombers might be without two of their biggest names. Schoen hasn’t practised since he went down against the B.C. Lions on Oct. 6. Bighill left last week’s Western Final with a non-contact injury and has been a spectator on the sidelines ever since.

“When you get to this position, you want the best players to play on the opposing side,” said Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo.

”For us, I told our guys that we want their best to play because you want to beat their best. And that’s the only way you can truly be crowned champs is if you play against their best. So, it’d be unfortunate, but I know this: they got a lot of depth over there.”

NICK IWANYSHYN / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Wide receiver Dalton Schoen (middle) hasn’t played since getting injured on Oct. 6.

THOMAS NOT THINKING RETIREMENT: Defensive Jake Thomas is the longest-serving Blue Bomber on the roster.

If it’s up to him, he’ll also have that title next year.

The veteran defender, who was selected in the fourth round, 29th overall, in the 2012 CFL Draft, is in his 11th season with Winnipeg. He turns 33 next month.

“Usually I would say I’ll sit back and think about it at the end of the year, but I’ve really enjoyed myself this year,” said Thomas. “I hope I have the opportunity to be able to be back here next year in Winnipeg but you never know,” “My body has felt really good all year. My family really enjoys Winnipeg… and it’s still just a lot of fun to be at work every day and play with the guys. We’re still a very successful team and we’re still getting it done.”

GREY CUP LACKING FRENCH: Montreal’s at the Grey Cup but they sure don’t feel at home.

There’s an obvious lack of French Grey Cup signage at Tim Hortons Field and the CFL has been hit with a lot of criticism over it.

The public outcry led to the league doing a last-minute paint job Saturday that will see ‘LCF’ logos added to the 25-yard lines.

“The league is bilingual so I feel like they should have some French signs,” said Als kicker David Côté, a product of Quebec City.

“This week I was watching some past Grey Cups on TSN and the logo in the middle of the field was ‘Coupe Grey’ and ‘Grey Cup’ so I’m not sure what happened, but I’m pretty sure they’re going to figure something out to include a little bit of French… I feel like with a French team here, even if there wasn’t a French team, they do it during the regular season so they should continue in the playoffs.”

The Als were already feeling disrespected from the beginning of the week when some TV guides had a description for Sunday’s game that read: ‘Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Toronto Argonauts.’

The Als took down the heavily favoured Argos 38-17 in last week’s Eastern Final and have won seven straight games heading into the CFL championship.

“The team saw it, you don’t have to worry. A lot has been said, and we’ll talk openly about it after Sunday when we win the trophy,” said Als safety and Montreal native Marc-Antoine Dequoy.

BOMBERS HOPING TO GET TO FAJARDO EARLY: Cody Fajardo has had his fair share of struggles against the Bombers in post-season play.

The 31-year-old pivot started two Western Finals (2019 and ’21) for the Saskatchewan Roughriders — both losses — and went a combined 46-of-68 for 631 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception. In those two meetings, the Riders averaged 15 points.

Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson wants Fajardo’s numbers to look like that Sunday.

“He still does Cody Fajardo things, like throwing the ball and falling to the ground, backing up, tripping on his feet, ducking when he feels pressure and stuff like that,” said Jefferson. “As long as we can get to him early and make him feel our presence, make him touch that ground a couple of times in the first quarter, we’ll have a good day.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

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Taylor AllenReporter

Eighteen years old and still in high school, Taylor got his start with the Free Press on June 1, 2011. Well, sort of…

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