05-06-2025
New and improved: Wheatfall wants the ball
After losing Kenny Lawler, Ontaria Wilson, and Drew Wolitarsky in the off-season, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers could certainly use a breakout star from the receiver room in 2025.
If he can back up his word, that might just be second-year Bomber Keric Wheatfall.
'I feel like it's my turn to really go out there and perform,' said the 26-year-old Fresno State product after Wednesday's practice.
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press
Bombers receiver Keric Wheatfall can't wait to prove himself this season.
'I hear a lot of people say 'Oh, this is the new Kenny Lawler,' but this is the new Keric Wheatfall. You all are going to see something, and I can't wait to show you guys.'
Wheatfall showed out in his CFL debut last season in Week 2 when he torched the Ottawa RedBlacks for 111 yards on three catches. He couldn't follow that up with a strong encore, though, as he suffered a hamstring injury that night that led to six weeks of rehab another two weeks on the practice roster before getting back in the starting lineup in Week 16. In seven games, he finished with 13 grabs for 273 yards and one touchdown. He also started the Western Final and Grey Cup.
'(The injury) took a lot away from me, but I never let myself get down,' said Wheatfall, who played for the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL before arriving in Winnipeg.
He doubled last year's end zone total in the team's preseason finale last week in Saskatchewan, a 27-20 win, when he hauled in two touchdowns — one from Zach Collaros and another from Chris Steveler — on five catches and 88 yards in one half of play.
'Wheat's a heck of a receiver. He played well for us last season, had a great training camp last season and this season as well,' said Collaros. 'He plays fast and does a great job at getting in and out of his cuts. As you guys can see, he's a guy that attacks the football in the air and he'll continue to get better.'
According to Wheatfall, it's only a sign of things to come.
'It felt good to be out there and play free and show a little bit of a snippet of how the season is going to go for me,' said Wheatfall. 'I'm way crisper than I was last year… I just feel like this year I'm more free. Last year I was more robotish, still kind of learning the waggle and the CFL.'
The Bombers are currently getting some work in on their Week 1 bye before opening their season at home on June 12 against the B.C. Lions.
Air quality
The Bombers practised on their outdoor practice field Wednesday, but almost had to make the move indoors to the WSF South building due to the poor air quality caused by the Manitoba wildfires.
Thursdays
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Next door at Princess Auto Stadium, Valour FC's 11 a.m. kickoff against Vancouver FC was pushed back 30 minutes as the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI+) was hovering around 12. On Sunday, Valour had a match that was pushed back several hours for the same reason.
It's a situation the Bombers may very well face this season if the issue persists. The CFL's policy is to stop a game and send teams into the locker room if the AQHI+ reaches 8 or above.
'We've come up with some pretty good protocols and we observe it well,' said Bombers long snapper Mike Benson, a CFLPA representative.
'I don't think we get distracted by it at all. We just know we have to get our work done no matter where we are. It's a relatively new protocol, it's only been around for a couple of years. We're always tinkering with it to find the best solution, the fastest results, so we're not debating on the phone up to a minute before the game. But unfortunately, just like any kind of weatherman, you can't predict what's going to go on. All we can do is adapt, persevere and be OK with it as a team.'
Taylor AllenReporter
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.
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