Bombers sign 4th overall draft pick of 2022, Enock Makonzo.

[theaardvark]

"The five-foot-eleven, 195-pound native of Lachine, Que., signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats shortly before training camp got underway in 2024 but suffered a torn Achilles before the start of the regular season, causing him to miss the entire year."

https://3downnation.com/2025/02/13/sources-winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-former-first-round-cfl-draft-pick-enock-makonzo/

Two ACL's within 5 years, all that time in recovery the second time, I'd seriously be contemplating a career change.

The achilles is not the ACL...

[Blue In BC]

If he's healthy, he will make some plays.  But, we seem to have a fair number of players coming into camp who have had significant injures last season. Lawson, Parker, Schoen, Wilson, Strev. Gowanlock, and now Makonzo. 

It's worth noting but previous injuries can be an issue. There isn't really a way to predict how things will work out.

Optimistically most of those injuries happened nearly a year ago by the time TC starts. Wilson did play in the play offs last year.

There is no doubt we'll cringe every time one of theses players goes down in practice or in a game.

Injuries are part of the game and we always wish the best for every player. Fingers will be crossed.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

The achilles is not the ACL...

You got me, I'm no medical expert, to me they're both leg related problems that require assistance.

[theaardvark]

You got me, I'm no medical expert, to me they're both leg related problems that require assistance.

Repeated injury to the same set of ligaments has concerns, there can be underlying issues that allow for the damage, either physiological or procedural, that causes the repeat damage. 

Some surgically repaired tendon can actually be stronger after surgery, correcting weakness or damage.  If you damage the ACL, get it repaired, then damage the achilles, and get it repaired, you could end up having less chance of re-damaging them.  Both because the repair makes them stronger, and the rehab makes them more aware of how to properly tone them.

[Blue In BC]

Unfortunately we've seen players return from achilles injuries and suffer another one before the end of TC. So it's a concern. Some players are never the same.

That said, some continue with a successful career.

We'll see how each of these players do.

[Horseman]

Unfortunately I have both ACL's replaced in my knees. The procedure involves taking a piece of the person's hamstring muscle and making a new AC Ligament out of it and replacing the torn one. It helps to have strong muscle build up around the knee including the Quads and Hamstrings which these professional athletes will have compared to the average person. The re-hab includes strengthening these muscles to be able to keep the knee secure. Hope this helps people to understand an ACL injury better. 

[TecnoGenius]

If he's healthy, he will make some plays.  But, we seem to have a fair number of players coming into camp who have had significant injures last season. Lawson, Parker, Schoen, Wilson, Strev. Gowanlock, and now Makonzo.

Exactly what I was just thinking.  Add to that list Vaughters (arm) and Reggie White (knee).  And maybe more.

It may be why we're getting many players so cheaply.  But it carries big risks that some of our desired starters have injury setbacks.  It would be like starting Masoli at QB week 1... sure it could go well, but you better have a superb backup right beside him!!

Part of why we let Biggie & Woli walk is their injury problems... and we replace them with ... more injury-riddled players?

Let's hope it works out, or we have so many extra guys as depth that it won't matter when half the team is in the tub?

[Blue In BC]

The severity and history of injuries is part of the equation. Age, SMS and diminishing role of some players dictates the cost / benefit of choices.

Yes there is a risk for some of the newbies for more injury issues. OTOH, they are younger, less expensive and will fill different roles than some players not returning.

Some players are injured every TC. Those include some with no injury history as well as some with previous issues.

The greatest concern is with Wilson, Strev and Parker with a larger history of issues combined with related age.

If Makonzo stays healthy he might end up starting at safety and back up at SAM.

[theaardvark]

Exactly what I was just thinking.  Add to that list Vaughters (arm) and Reggie White (knee).  And maybe more.

It may be why we're getting many players so cheaply.  But it carries big risks that some of our desired starters have injury setbacks.  It would be like starting Masoli at QB week 1... sure it could go well, but you better have a superb backup right beside him!!

Part of why we let Biggie & Woli walk is their injury problems... and we replace them with ... more injury-riddled players?

Let's hope it works out, or we have so many extra guys as depth that it won't matter when half the team is in the tub?

Biggie and Woli were replaced by sturdy players.  Guys we brought in to compete for spots may be ? health wise, but in every case, there are options.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Biggie and Woli were replaced by sturdy players.  Guys we brought in to compete for spots may be ? health wise, but in every case, there are options.

I wouldn't categorize Woli with Bighill as far as injuries go, he had a few injuries over 7 seasons but rarely serious season enders like Bighill experienced a few times. In his time with the Bombers they received good value for their investment and if it wasn't for young Kevin Clercius, he'd likely be healthy and ready to go for season 8. If BLM connects with him as a reliable target he could do really well in Hamilton.

[TecnoGenius]

Biggie and Woli were replaced by sturdy players.  Guys we brought in to compete for spots may be ? health wise, but in every case, there are options.

There are options if we maintain this surplus of players (RECs especially) into the actual regular season.  If we cut most of the middling FA guys before week 1 then we really haven't done anything to insure against a '24 repeat.

The '24 problem was nearly every REC got injured and we had zero non-rookie talent to replace them.  And for some reason we were unable to sign any at that late time.  So now we're signing them all early... but how to keep them on the team but not the AR... that is the question.

[theaardvark]

The ubiquitos "turf toe" or any number of "mysterious illnesses" can keep a guy on the AR/IR.  The "middlin" backup REC are not costing us a huge amount, so they can sit on the 1 game IR if they want to keep a paycheck.  They can refuse the IR and get released if someone else wants them... but i think we will have some rookies that impress in camp on the PR, and one or two FA Recs stashed on the IR.

We don't often use the IR trick, but we can...

[TecnoGenius]

We don't often use the IR trick, but we can...

We really don't.  Every year I can maybe spot 1-2 1GIR "trick" stashes in WFC.  Other teams make heavy use of it, stashing up to dozen not-really-injured players each.

As such, I don't expect us to "cheat the roster" this year either.

So does that mean the surplus FA RECs get their 60-100k contract sitting on the PR?  (Assuming we want to keep them.)  I thought PR players were forced to get some sort minimum wage as the maximum?

As an example, say Stearns or White don't make the AR week 1 and are stuffed on the PR.  Do they get the $ they were promised?  Can other teams still poach them?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

We really don't.  Every year I can maybe spot 1-2 1GIR "trick" stashes in WFC.  Other teams make heavy use of it, stashing up to dozen not-really-injured players each.

As such, I don't expect us to "cheat the roster" this year either.

So does that mean the surplus FA RECs get their 60-100k contract sitting on the PR?  (Assuming we want to keep them.)  I thought PR players were forced to get some sort minimum wage as the maximum?

As an example, say Stearns or White don't make the AR week 1 and are stuffed on the PR.  Do they get the $ they were promised?  Can other teams still poach them?

Sometimes you'll see them shuffle the deck late in the season to get a PR player a game check and quite often that player will not play a single snap.

[theaardvark]

We really don't.  Every year I can maybe spot 1-2 1GIR "trick" stashes in WFC.  Other teams make heavy use of it, stashing up to dozen not-really-injured players each.

As such, I don't expect us to "cheat the roster" this year either.

So does that mean the surplus FA RECs get their 60-100k contract sitting on the PR?  (Assuming we want to keep them.)  I thought PR players were forced to get some sort minimum wage as the maximum?

As an example, say Stearns or White don't make the AR week 1 and are stuffed on the PR.  Do they get the $ they were promised?  Can other teams still poach them?

PR players:

Can be paid any amount over $750/week
All pay and housing allowance goes against the $SMS cap
Can be offered contracts by any other team without permission.
Can choose to leave the PR without notice or permission.

AR players on the 1 game IR

Have to accept the move to the IR
Get paid their contract game cheques
Pay and housing goes against the $SMS cap
Cannot be approached by other teams without permission
Cannot choose to leave the team, other than to retire, and can be put on the suspended list and cannot sign with another team until their contract expires, even if they are not playing, unless released.

Players on the AR and 6 game IR

Have to accept the move to the IR
Get paid their contract game cheques
Housing goes against the $SMS cap
Cannot be approached by other teams without permission
Cannot choose to leave the team, other than to retire, and can be put on the suspended list and cannot sign with another team until their contract expires, even if they are not playing, unless released.


Walters has that extra $SMS uncommitted as of yet, so we could explore the expanded use of the 1game IR this year.. or keeping players on the PR at a high than min rate.  But I think anyone worth paying above min on the PR would get scooped.