For those who plan to attend training camp this year (starting May 6th), please report your observations here. Media reports on the Rookie Training camp will also be posted here.
Blue Bombers Rookie Camp Primer
It is a seven-hour audition spread out over three days and with a definite 'outwit, out play, outlast' Survivor-type feel to it all.
One mistake, after all, could be critically devastating, just as one shining moment might make a massive positive first impression.
So, given all that — the high stakes involved with potential future employment very much hanging in the balance — Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie camp annually serves as both a gruelling, cutthroat job interview and compelling theatre.
Case in point: Blue Bombers rookies will be on the field Wednesday morning for the first of three practice sessions and by the time Friday rolls around some of them may soon be on the highway, what with main training camp starting Sunday morning and the roster needing to be set at 85, not including 2026 CFL Canadian Draft picks. By next Tuesday, that number needs to be at 75 — again not including draft picks.
As of this writing there are 107 players on the Blue Bombers roster so very soon it will be a case of the math ain't mathing for some.
All that said, there is opportunity here for some of the newcomers.
Familiar faces gone from last year's roster include quarterbacks Chris Streveler and Chase Artopoeus, receivers Dillon Mitchell, Jerreth Sterns, Keric Wheatfall and Dalton Schoen, centre Chris Kolankowski, defensive linemen Jake Thomas, James Vaughters, Devin Adams and Jamal Woods, linebacker Shayne Gauthier and defensive backs Demerio Houston, Jamal Parker, Jr., Dexter Lawson, Jr. and Terrell Bonds.
The club was busy over the winter in free agency, adding defensive tackle Jake Ceresna, offensive tackle Jarell Broxton, receivers Tim White and Tommy Nield, linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox along with defensive backs Jonathan Moxey, Deandre Lamont and Alijah McGhee.
All that said, there is opportunity here. Every spring brings change, just as Trey Vaval — the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie last year — along with Jaiden Woodbey, Cam Allen, Jaylen Smith, Connor Shay, Ethan Ball, Matthew Peterson, Lane Novak and Ian Leroux all made the club and significant contributions last year after stepping up in rookie and main training camp.
As rookie camp opens a nugget worth noting: two of the Blue Bombers 2026 CFL Canadian Draft class — defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth (first round, fourth overall) and offensive lineman Kevin Cline (second round, 20th overall) — will not be present. Gatkuoth is expected as soon as this weekend after attending rookie minicamp with the Denver Broncos while Cline could be a while, as he has signed with the Miami Dolphins and will be at their main training camp this summer.
The Blue Bombers open their preseason on Saturday, May 23rd in Saskatoon vs. the Saskatchewan Roughriders and then are home on Friday, May 29th against the B.C. Lions for their final dress rehearsal.
Winnipeg opens the 2026 regular season on Friday, June 5th in Calgary against the Stampeders and will then be in front of their fans for the home opener against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Thursday, June 11th.
Here's a quick primer to get Blue Bombers fans ready for rookie camp...
WHO TO WATCH
Names passed along by Blue Bombers crack scouting staff (in no particular order)....
The rest of the Rookie Camp article is here...
https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/05/05/blue-bombers-rookie-camp-primer/