‘Ottawa’ Ottawa Redblacks Lose Running Back William Powell to Injury in Pre-Season Opener
Get sharp and stay healthy: the primary objectives of the first preseason game of 2016 for the Ottawa Redblacks.
Assessment: mixed results on the first, not good on the latter as the Redblacks downed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 18-14 before an announced crowd of 17,947 at TD Place stadium.
The injury bug the Redblacks largely avoided in 2015 bit hard on the first series of the first pre-season game of 2016. Tailback William Powell, a revelation on the team’s drive to the Grey Cup game last November, made just two carries before he was helped off the field with an injured left leg, and he was on crutches before halftime.
Next man up was Travon Van, and he staked his claim to a prime-time role with a mix of nifty footwork and flat-out speed, running seven times for 38 yards and adding two catches for 10 yards.