Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ offensive tackle Stanley Bryant has been released from hospital and is in good spirits following an apparent medical event during Friday’s game.
The club’s senior director of player and public relations, Darren Cameron, shared the news on Twitter early Saturday evening, passing along a message from Bryant.
“Stanley Bryant has been released from hospital and has returned home. He is feeling considerably better, and wanted to extend a thank you to everyone across the CFL, specifically the amazing fans here in Manitoba, for their concern and compassion.”
Bryant initially got up after blocking on a three-yard run by Brady Oliveira on the first series of Friday’s 26-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats but took a knee while making his way back to the huddle. He received attention from medical staff and briefly tried to leave the field under his own power before a stretcher was called, taking him away with a towel over his face and an IV in his arm. Winnipeg’s bench emptied to see him off and he received a standing ovation from the crowd.
The 38-year-old was taken to a Winnipeg area hospital for further evaluation, where he was reported as stable and alert. According to Cameron, Bryant listened to the final moments of the victory on the radio and called to congratulate the team immediately after the final whistle.
Head coach Mike O’Shea, who is notoriously tight-lipped about injuries, blamed the situation on a combination of heat and an illness which Bryant was battling throughout the week. It was 24 degrees at Princess Auto Stadium for kickoff, though the 62 percent humidity meant it felt closer to 31 degrees. Environment Canada issued a heat warning for the area on Thursday, indicating that the humid airmass could pose a threat to life or property.
Bryant is arguably the greatest offensive lineman in CFL history, having won a record four Most Outstanding Offensive Linemen awards. He’s also ultra-durable, starting 148 of a possible 151 career games since joining the Blue Bombers as a free agent in 2015. He was a healthy scratch for the three games he missed, all of which came late in the season after Winnipeg had clinched first place in the West Division.
The Blue Bombers (5-6) will return to action on Sunday, September 1 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-5-1) in the Labour Day Classic.
