By Perry Lefko, Sportsnet.ca
It looks like Troy Westwood will be back in the lineup for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Bombers general manager Brendan Taman told Sportsnet.ca on Wednesday that Westwood, who has been in and out of the lineup this year with injuries and as a healthy scratch, is expected to handle the place kicking on Saturday in Toronto against the Argos.
Westwood, 40, has not played in the Bombers’ last three games. He was a healthy scratch this year for the first time in his 17-year career.
Punter/kicker Rob Pikula is sidelined with an ankle injury suffered in practice on Monday. The Bombers hadn’t been happy with his kicking anyway.
Pikula’s acquisition from B.C. this year began a series of changes in the Bombers’ kicking.
The Bombers have re-signed punter Pat Fleming, who is expected to play on Saturday. He was signed as a free agent earlier this year by the Bombers, played in the season opener and was then cut, leading to the trade for Pikula.
Taman said running back Charles Roberts is “doubtful” for the game because of a thigh bruise suffered in the team’s last game. Roberts is battling B.C.’s Joe Smith for the league’s rushing lead.
The Bombers will definitely be without star defensive tackle Doug Brown, who has been diagnosed with a blowout fracture in his right eye. He sustained the injury in the Bombers last game when poked in the eye.
Brown told Sportsnet.ca the team doctors are concerned that if he travels, the pressure from the flight could aggravate the injury.
“There’s nothing wrong with the actual eye,” Brown said. “It’s the bone and the air and the whole bleeding. My actual eyesight is 100 percent. The housing of it is not in good shape.”
Brown has been voted the Bombers’ nominee for the Outstanding Canadian award in the East Division.
Argos add Aidoo
The Argo have signed Kojo Aidoo in their latest attempt to acquire a non-import fullback, Sportsnet.ca has learned.
The team is expected to officially announce the signing of Aidoo to the practice roster on Thursday. He may be in the lineup on Saturday.
Aidoo has dressed for 36 games since entering the Canadian Football League with Edmonton in 2003. He played for Hamilton from 2004 through to the end of 2006. He was released this year in April.
Overall he has 133 yards on 27 carries and four catches for 45 yards.
Aidoo was voted the Hec Creighton winner as the top collegiate player in Canada in 2000 while starring for McMaster University at running back. But his collegiate career took a dramatic turn when he broke a leg in the filming of a remake of the movie Brian’s Song in 2001.
He has played mostly on special teams at the pro level, but did line up at fullback for some games for Hamilton two years ago.
Aidoo takes the spot the Argos had been hoping Sean Millington could fill, but the broadcaster failed in his attempt to make a comeback because the team had concerns about the Achilles tendon he injured two years ago.
