The return of Terrence Edwards to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' lineup couldn't come at a better time.
The team's veteran receiver is symptom-free after suffering a concussion Sept. 20 and will suit up when the Bombers (5-8) visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-7) for a crucial game Thanksgiving Monday.
"The last two games the guys did a great job without me," said Edwards, who's second in team receiving with 36 catches for 518 yards and four touchdowns.
"I'm just trying to come back and add a little piece to the puzzle to give us another play-maker."
The Bombers are riding a two-game winning streak for the first time this season and could grab a share of second place in the CFL East Division with a win over the Ticats.
On the flipside, Hamilton is on a two-game losing skid. It's coming off a 15-14 loss in Calgary last weekend and a 42-8 kicking by Montreal at home the week before.
The Tiger-Cats are 5-2 at home and defeated the Bombers 25-13 in mid-July at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Winnipeg is 2-5 on the road.
The teams close out the regular season against each other in Winnipeg on Nov. 8.
"Certainly winning this game would put us in the driver's seat to hang on to that second-place position," Bombers head coach Mike Kelly said.
"Losing it wouldn't be the end of the world, but certainly we understand the importance of it and we're excited that we're in a position where we could even be talking about second place."
He looks forward to adding Edwards to the receiving corps, which includes leading receiver Adarius Bowman (37 receptions, 566 yards and four TDs), Brock Ralph, Aaron Hargreaves and recent additions Otis Amey, Dudley Guice Jr. and Titus Ryan.
Edwards will take Guice's roster spot and Ryan will also sit out.
"You worry about chemistry after winning two games in a row and you don't want to mess it up too much, but when it comes to Terrence I think he is going to fit in nicely," Kelly said.
"Even more so than catching balls, he gives us a veteran presence that is needed in our group."
Edwards, in his third season with the Bombers and fifth in the league, was sidelined the past two games after a vicious high hit away from a play by Montreal linebacker Shea Emery.
The smack briefly knocked Edwards out and Emery was reportedly fined $750 by the league.
Already suffering from a turf-toe injury, Edwards, 30, said he experienced some wicked headaches and unexplained emotional highs and lows the first few days after the hit.
"My memory's coming back," Edwards said. "That's something I don't wish on anybody, not knowing what happened. You lose five, six minutes of your life that you'll never get back."
He doesn't think any Ticats will take cheap shots at him.
Bombers quarterback Michael Bishop doesn't want that to happen either, and he's eager to toss the ball to the reliable target.
"We've just got to get (Edwards) involved in the game, get him involved early and let him protect himself," Bishop said.
"You don't want to get him hit and have the same thing happen again. Hopefully there's good guys in the secondary in Hamilton that won't take cheap shots at him and try to knock him out of the game."
The Bombers have extra spring in their steps these days, coinciding with the winning streak and Bishop's more visible, confident leadership.
"Now that we're getting it done on the field, the confidence is still there (and) it's even higher," Bishop said.
"We know we can play with anybody in the league, as long as we come out and play the type of ball we need to play."
Bombers cornerback/kick returner Jovon Johnson, who took back a missed field goal last week against Edmonton and ran for a 118-yard TD, is eager for Monday's game.
"I'm still level-headed," said Johnson, whose return was the second-longest in team history.
"Plays like that happen and you've got to forget the past and look forward to the future. Hopefully this game I can make the impact I made last week."
Winnipeg linebacker Ike Charlton said his teammates are approaching each game as a playoff contest.
Hamilton will start second-year quarterback Quinton Porter and have nine-year vet Kevin Glenn on deck.
"Hamilton is a good team all the way around - offence, defence and special teams - but we feel we can beat them," Charlton said.
"We've just got to go out and prove it. (Hamilton) coach (Greg) Marshall has those guys looking real good on defence so it's going to be a defensive battle."
Notes: Bomber linebacker Barrin Simpson is replacing Joe Lobendahn (hamstring), rookie Phillip Hunt takes defensive end Gavin Walls' spot (ruptured ACL) and Brady Browne will back up in the secondary and play special teams.
The team's veteran receiver is symptom-free after suffering a concussion Sept. 20 and will suit up when the Bombers (5-8) visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-7) for a crucial game Thanksgiving Monday.
"The last two games the guys did a great job without me," said Edwards, who's second in team receiving with 36 catches for 518 yards and four touchdowns.
"I'm just trying to come back and add a little piece to the puzzle to give us another play-maker."
The Bombers are riding a two-game winning streak for the first time this season and could grab a share of second place in the CFL East Division with a win over the Ticats.
On the flipside, Hamilton is on a two-game losing skid. It's coming off a 15-14 loss in Calgary last weekend and a 42-8 kicking by Montreal at home the week before.
The Tiger-Cats are 5-2 at home and defeated the Bombers 25-13 in mid-July at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Winnipeg is 2-5 on the road.
The teams close out the regular season against each other in Winnipeg on Nov. 8.
"Certainly winning this game would put us in the driver's seat to hang on to that second-place position," Bombers head coach Mike Kelly said.
"Losing it wouldn't be the end of the world, but certainly we understand the importance of it and we're excited that we're in a position where we could even be talking about second place."
He looks forward to adding Edwards to the receiving corps, which includes leading receiver Adarius Bowman (37 receptions, 566 yards and four TDs), Brock Ralph, Aaron Hargreaves and recent additions Otis Amey, Dudley Guice Jr. and Titus Ryan.
Edwards will take Guice's roster spot and Ryan will also sit out.
"You worry about chemistry after winning two games in a row and you don't want to mess it up too much, but when it comes to Terrence I think he is going to fit in nicely," Kelly said.
"Even more so than catching balls, he gives us a veteran presence that is needed in our group."
Edwards, in his third season with the Bombers and fifth in the league, was sidelined the past two games after a vicious high hit away from a play by Montreal linebacker Shea Emery.
The smack briefly knocked Edwards out and Emery was reportedly fined $750 by the league.
Already suffering from a turf-toe injury, Edwards, 30, said he experienced some wicked headaches and unexplained emotional highs and lows the first few days after the hit.
"My memory's coming back," Edwards said. "That's something I don't wish on anybody, not knowing what happened. You lose five, six minutes of your life that you'll never get back."
He doesn't think any Ticats will take cheap shots at him.
Bombers quarterback Michael Bishop doesn't want that to happen either, and he's eager to toss the ball to the reliable target.
"We've just got to get (Edwards) involved in the game, get him involved early and let him protect himself," Bishop said.
"You don't want to get him hit and have the same thing happen again. Hopefully there's good guys in the secondary in Hamilton that won't take cheap shots at him and try to knock him out of the game."
The Bombers have extra spring in their steps these days, coinciding with the winning streak and Bishop's more visible, confident leadership.
"Now that we're getting it done on the field, the confidence is still there (and) it's even higher," Bishop said.
"We know we can play with anybody in the league, as long as we come out and play the type of ball we need to play."
Bombers cornerback/kick returner Jovon Johnson, who took back a missed field goal last week against Edmonton and ran for a 118-yard TD, is eager for Monday's game.
"I'm still level-headed," said Johnson, whose return was the second-longest in team history.
"Plays like that happen and you've got to forget the past and look forward to the future. Hopefully this game I can make the impact I made last week."
Winnipeg linebacker Ike Charlton said his teammates are approaching each game as a playoff contest.
Hamilton will start second-year quarterback Quinton Porter and have nine-year vet Kevin Glenn on deck.
"Hamilton is a good team all the way around - offence, defence and special teams - but we feel we can beat them," Charlton said.
"We've just got to go out and prove it. (Hamilton) coach (Greg) Marshall has those guys looking real good on defence so it's going to be a defensive battle."
Notes: Bomber linebacker Barrin Simpson is replacing Joe Lobendahn (hamstring), rookie Phillip Hunt takes defensive end Gavin Walls' spot (ruptured ACL) and Brady Browne will back up in the secondary and play special teams.
