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DARRYL DYCK\/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n
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Rookie B.C. Lions quarterback Kaidon Salter will get his first career start against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Thursday night at Princess Auto Stadium. The Blue and Gold first faced the pivot back in the pre-season finale.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Salter capped off his college career at Colorado playing for former NFL star Deion Sanders.<\/p>\n
The now 23-year-old went 3-6 as the team\u2019s starter and finished the season completing 62 per cent of his passes for 1,414 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also added 356 ground yards and five rushing touchdowns while trying to fill the void left by Shedeur Sanders, now a quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.<\/p>\n
Salter is new to the CFL, but his family has a lot of familiarity with the game. He\u2019s cousins with former Lions quarterback Casey Printers \u2014 the CFL\u2019s Most Outstanding Player in 2004.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe talked to me over the weekend; he was telling me just be prepared. Time\u2019s moving fast, and he was telling me a little bit about the CFL and everything that he\u2019s done here,\u201d said Salter on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just grateful, very privileged, and I\u2019m just ready for the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bombers got a look at Salter in the pre-season finale and he impressed by completing 11-of-12 throws for 123 yards and a touchdown. Salter also played the final six minutes against Toronto in relief of Brice where he connected on 9-of-15 attempts for 121 yards and rushed four times for 12 yards.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s quite capable,\u201d said Bombers head coach Mike O\u2019Shea. \u201cWhat do I want the defence to do? Make sure they\u2019re executing at high level and certainly understand what he\u2019s capable of, and don\u2019t take anything for granted.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t forget Brady<\/p>\n
Brady Oliveira reminded everyone last week why he\u2019s considered one of the most talented players in the three-down loop.<\/p>\n
He had his best showing of the season, carrying the ball 14 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns \u2014 including a career-long 45-yard scamper to the house.<\/p>\n
Oliveira might be due to have a similar performance against B.C. as he\u2019s only rushed for 100-plus against the Lions once in the previous seven meetings.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t JOHN WOODS \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Brady Oliveira (20) runs for the first down during the first half against the Calgary Stampeders in Winnipeg last week.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n It won\u2019t be easy, though.<\/p>\n The Lions haven\u2019t had much, if any, success this season, but they are doing at least one thing right: holding their opponents to just 54.8 rushing yards per game.<\/p>\n The Bombers should have an obvious advantage at tailback this week since the Lions are without their standout rusher James Butler.<\/p>\n With Butler ruled out with a foot injury, the visitors will turn to rookie Emani Bailey, who is getting the start in his first CFL game.<\/p>\n Bailey was the leading rusher at Texas Christian University in 2022 which was the season they made it to the National Championship Game against Georgia.<\/p>\n After practice roster stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers, the 24-year-old is looking to make a name for himself up north.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Clean it up<\/p>\n Through the first seven games, the Bombers have had three issues consistently plague them: starting slowly, turning the football over, and missed tackles.<\/p>\n The Blue and Gold have trailed at the half in every game but one this season \u2014 the 30-21 win against Toronto on July 10 \u2014 and have been outscored 121-86 through the opening two quarters.<\/p>\n Quarterback Dru Brown, who is once again starting for an injured Zach Collaros (neck), threw four picks against Calgary, and should\u2019ve had three or four against Ottawa the week before but the Redblacks inexcusably dropped them all. The Bombers have committed 16 turnovers which is the second most behind Ottawa\u2019s 19.<\/p>\n As for tackling, just rewatch Jalen Philpot\u2019s 41-yard touchdown at the start of the third quarter last week where the Bombers had not one, not two, but three defenders all miss.<\/p>\n If this group wants to be considered a contender, they need to clean it up in all three of those areas and there\u2019s no better place to start than now against a struggling B.C. team that\u2019s leaning on several backups.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Sack masters<\/p>\n Two of the best pass rushers in the league will be on full display in this one.<\/p>\n Lions defensive end Mathieu Betts was named the CFL\u2019s Most Outstanding Defensive Player last season and his talents were obvious last week with a pair of quarterback takedowns.<\/p>\n Betts, a 31-year-old from Montreal, is now tied with four other names for the league lead with five.<\/p>\n Two of those players at the top of the list are in Winnipeg: defensive end Willie Jefferson and defensive tackle Jake Ceresna.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t JOHN WOODS \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Willie Jefferson (far left) sacks Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. last week with the help of teammates Jake Ceresna (left) and Michael Fletcher (right). The B.C Lions have allowed 18 sacks so far this season, while Winnipeg leads in sacks with 15.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Jefferson has especially been impressive lately by picking up sacks in three consecutive games. It\u2019s the first three-game streak since 2023 for the 35-year-old from Texas.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe he\u2019s still arguably the most dominant player in the league,\u201d said Bombers defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger earlier in the week.<\/p>\n The Lions have allowed 18 sacks this season which is the most out of any team. Meanwhile, the Bombers have dropped more quarterbacks than anyone with 15 sacks.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Vanterpool and Woodbey<\/p>\n Bomberland can let out a huge sigh of relief that the best blocker won\u2019t be out long term.<\/p>\n O\u2019Shea revealed on Wednesday that star right tackle Jarell Broxton \u2014 who left last week in the second quarter with a knee injury \u2014 was close to being able to play this week but didn\u2019t quite cross the finish line. In his absence, the Bombers will roll with Micah Vanterpool \u2014 a third-year player set to make his ninth career start.<\/p>\n With the Bombers heading into a bye after this, all signs point to Broxton being good to go on Aug. 14 at home against Ottawa.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s confidence there,\u201d said Oliveira on Vanterpool. \u201cHe\u2019s a guy that\u2019s extremely athletic. He\u2019s probably in the best shape that he\u2019s ever been.\u201d<\/p>\n On defence, the Bombers are getting a boost from linebacker Jaiden Woodbey, who is making his return after suffering a lower body injury in Week 1. Woodbey, who had four tackles in the season-opener, is a versatile defender used in several different spots.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has different skill sets and attributes,\u201d said O\u2019Shea on Woodbey. \u201cHe\u2019s bigger than a lot of guys that have that kind of athleticism.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t Taylor Allen Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree\/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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