The Winnipeg Blue Bombers placed running back Konner Burtenshaw and offensive lineman Tavita Eli on the injured list on Tuesday.
Konner Burtenshaw is five foot ten and weighs 223 pounds. The 26-year-old from Amherstview, Ontario, played ten games with one kick return for 15 yards. The Blue Bombers drafted Burtenshaw in the eighth round (74th pick) in the 2022 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Burtenshaw played five seasons at Queen’s University (2017-21) with 20 carries for 68 yards, three touchdowns, one kick return for 20 yards, 27 tackles (20 solo, 7 assists), one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 25 games for the Golden Gaels. He was named to the OUA All-Rookie Team in 2017 and selected as the school’s top special-teams player in 2019.
Tavita Eli is six foot four and weighs 307 pounds. The 27-year-old from Richmond, British Columbia, recently signed a three-year contract with the Blue Bombers in January after missing the 2022 season. Winnipeg drafted him in the fourth round (34th pick) in the 2019 CFL Draft. Eli’s played 19 games in two seasons for the Blue Bombers, winning two Grey Cup titles.
Collegiately, Eli played 36 games in three seasons at the University of Hawaii (2015-17) playing right guard, left guard, and center with one tackle for the Rainbow Warriors. In 2017, he was part of an offensive line that helped lead Hawaii’s offense to its best rushing average (168.2) in 22 years, and 22 knockdowns.
In addition, Eli was named to the pre-season Rimington Award watch list for the second straight year in 2017 and was also named the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List before the season.
