Kendall Randolph casts a big shadow at 6-5 and 306 pounds — give or take that day’s caloric intake — and yet there hasn’t been a whole lot of chatter about the mammoth right tackle for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Truth be told, the men who make a living up front along the line of scrimmage honestly prefer it that way. After all, their credo is to simply punch the clock, roll up the sleeves and put in a good day’s work the Blue Bombers Moving Company.

And the less they are under the microscope the better.

It’s a thankless job, to be sure, but as the old saying goes, in football some guys get paid to play the piano, others get paid to move the piano.

And the University of Alabama product has been moving the piano consistently since locking down the right tackle spot at the start of the season.

“He’s gotten better and better every week and really taken ownership on what happens on the right side of our line,” said veteran right guard Pat Neufeld this week. “Any time two guys — on the left side or right side — play a lot of games together they develop a chemistry and see things the same way that allows them to play fast and play with trust.

“There’s still lots of things we can work on and that’s what’s exciting about what is ahead. He’s been such a good fit for us right from the beginning.”

Randolph’s transformation in Winnipeg has been rapid, from dressing in six games last year and starting five at guard and left tackle, to now securing the right tackle spot.

It’s a cool story, too, because he bounced all around the line at Alabama where he suited up for 53 games at guard, tackle and tight end and serving as the backup left tackle in 2020 when the Crimson Tide won the national championship.

And so technically he was still green when he arrived from the Crimson Tide to the Big Blue, especially with the rule changes.

Yet, that’s where his own dedication and conviction — shaped and formed by the legendary Nick Saban at Alabama — really began to shine here in Winnipeg.

“I’m definitely more comfortable with everything, including the rules of the game,” Randolph told bluebombers.com this week. “Coming from the States and in my first year in the CFL I had to adjust to the change at the line of scrimmage with the one yard off and the extra person on the field and how that affects me in the pass game. Last year was about learning and picking up the habits of defensive players. That’s become something that has helped me grow confidence.

“On the field, Coach Saban taught me a lot — you have to have some type of work ethic to play at that level. But he really reinforced how hard we are able to push ourselves in doing the right things on and off the field. He was big on things like being on time to meetings — the little things that a lot of people overlook — as well as making sure you’re in the training room and taking care of your body and spending the extra time you need to be effective on the field.

“I would say he taught me how to be a professional. He also stressed the things like being a man and taking care of your responsibilities outside of the white lines.

“My goal going there — I knew I’d be playing against the best athletes in college ball even at practice — was to try and become the best version of myself. It’s the same thing here. One thing about Winnipeg I would say is I deeply respect how they run the organization. Coach O’Shea is a great leader and from there we’ve got our position coaches who are very personable and are able to translate what they need done from us in ways we can all understand. We have the pillars about discipline and hard work and being a team and togetherness and those things translated well to me when I got here.”

All those themes — the personal and the organizational — have continued here with the Blue Bombers where everyone from his teammates to the coaches talk about Randolph’s fit in the O-line room, his versatility and his approach.

In short, he’s still working to be the best version of himself.

“He’s doing really well. He’s a terrific athlete,” said Blue Bombers coach Mike O’Shea of Randolph. “I’ve talked about this several times — I like that he’s got a bit of a switch from practice to a game in terms of how the intensity shows up. He practises hard but there’s another level to it in games.

“He continually learning and getting better and working well with the other guys. He’s a great fit.”

OUCH UPDATE: The Blue Bombers held a closed practice on Wednesday and will not be on the field on Thursday, meaning we won’t get official confirmation about the lineup for Saturday’s game in Calgary against the Stampeders until the depth chart is released on Friday morning.

The day’s injury report does indicate that DT Cam Lawson was limited after not practising on Tuesday while RB/KR Peyton Logan, OL Micah Vanterpool, and DB Jamal Parker, Jr. all did not see the field.

Injury Report: August 6, 2025#ForTheW | @DoctorsManitoba pic.twitter.com/2Zozp8f3q7

— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) August 6, 2025

DT Jamal Woods, who has been on the injured list since the start of the season, has resumed practising. O’Shea on Woods: “If you’ve noticed in the last little while he’s all over the field. He is non-stop running to the football. He’s athletic. He’s really, really smart. He’s a high-level football IQ, high IQ guy.”

GOOD NUMBERS: This from the CFL’s communication department — Plus signs are a good thing:

A winning July, both on and off the field! pic.twitter.com/iiM5I5gsZC

— CFL Communications (@CFL_PR) August 6, 2025

ROSTER MOVE: The Blue Bombers released CB Marquise Bridges from the practice roster on Wednesday. He had started the first six games at cornerback, but the club moved Parker, Jr. to that spot last week and, when he went down with an injury, moved rookie Trey Vaval there.

As well, Dexter Lawson, who had been among the last cuts, has also returned to the club and has been getting a lot of work at corner this week.