High praise for offensive line

At least one of Weston Dressler’s hopes for the 2018 Blue Bombers season likely won’t come to fruition.

“As long as we keep our offensive line intact and keep those guys working, they are the guys who keep everything going,” Dressler said after re-signing with the Bombers, Tuesday.

The Winnipeg Sun has learned offensive lineman Travis Bond is not likely to sign a new deal and will hit the open market in February.

Bond, a 6-foot-7, 356-pound import guard, was a starter for much of the last two seasons, but seemed to lose his job through an injury by the end of the 2017 campaign.

Bond was hurt Oct. 21 in Toronto, missing the last two regular-season games.

Appearing to have recovered in time for the playoffs, he watched as Canadian Pat Neufeld remained the starter for the West semifinal against Edmonton.

The Bombers have already re-signed Neufeld and import starters Stanley Bryant and Jermarcus Hardrick, and may see Bond as expendable and/ or unaffordable under the salary cap.

They may also want to shift their ratio by using just two imports on the offensive line, instead of three.

Winnipeg’s pending free agents on defence include CFL all-stars Chris Randle and T.J. Heath, linebacker/defensive back Moe Leggett and linemen Jamaal Westerman and Jake Thomas.

Dressler likes what the team returns on offence, led by quarterback Matt Nichols and running back Andrew Harris.

“We’ve got a lot of good parts,” he said. “We’ve got a good core group of guys and leadership in the lockerroom. That’s one of the most important things.”