Daniels may return on Friday
DaVaris Daniels was back on the practice field Monday, and it looks like the Calgary Stampeders dodged a bullet.
Daniels hurt his shoulder in Week 1 against the Ottawa Redblacks, and while it was initially feared that the CFL’s reigning Most Outstanding Rookie would be missing for a while, it quickly became clear that he’d only be out for a couple of weeks.
Now, it looks like the Stamps could be getting him back for Friday’s game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after Daniels missed only one game.
“We’ve still gotta make sure he can hopefully handle the hits and all that, but it’s not an injury where we can’t give him fitness and good work,” said Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson. “We worked in both Marken (Michel) and him today and if he progresses and we feel comfortable with it, we’ll play him, but if he needs another week or two, we’ll do that.”
Getting Daniels back for Week 3 would be a huge boost for the Stampeders. Lemar Durant, Kamar Jorden and Marquay McDaniel have all been solid through the opening two games of the season, and Michel filled in admirably for the home-opener against the Redblacks.
Daniels, though, presents a different threat when he’s streaking down the sideline and leaving defenders in his dust.
TRYING OUT O-LINE
When Randy Colling makes his first appearance in a Calgary Stampeders uniform, it may not be at the position where anyone originally expected him to play.
Colling was selected as a defensive lineman in the first round of the 2017 CFL Draft, but on Monday he was suiting up on the offensive side of the ball.
“I decided with our injuries — we lost two guys last week — it needs to be done and if I can get him on the roster as a tweener, a guy that can play both sides … I want to get a look at him on the offensive line,” Dickenson said. “Certainly not a long-term thing, but something I felt was worth it for right now and we’ll see where it goes from there.”
NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT
Charleston Hughes and Micah Johnson both sat out Monday’s practice, and while their absences would be a huge blow to the Stampeders defence if they’re missing Friday, it doesn’t sound like that should be too much of a concern.
“Both of them took a day, I hate to call it a vet day because they’re both hurting a little bit, but (I) certainly hope both can play,” Dickenson said. “They both had a little bit of maintenance work done, so we’ve gotta make sure we’re smart, but if both can play that helps us out.”
NEW SIGNING
The Stamps added a little veteran experience to their practice roster on Monday morning when they signed international defensive lineman Aston Whiteside.
The 28-year-old has 43 games of CFL experience, having split his time between the Toronto Argonauts and the Redblacks over the past three years, piling up 43 tackles – including five for loss – 12 sacks, and seven forced fumbles.