Official Game Day Thread - BC at Winnipeg, June 12, 2025

[Blue In BC]

Who says Ayers getting listed as a DE? Who knows, but will be fun to watch where he actually lined up and plays!

That's where he shows on the depth char on page 1t. We know that doesn't mean much aside that he's on the AR. I'm glad we found a way to do that but disappointed we couldn't keep J. Jones as well. Again needing a 3rd import OL meant losing one import on defence.

We'll see some 34 defences and in that sense he could be a rusher / DE type.

I think I mentioned during free agency or early TC that we should be on the hunt for another Canadian OL.

[Blueforlife]

Who says Ayers getting listed as a DE? Who knows, but will be fun to watch where he actually lined up and plays!

Yeah just a place holder maybe, as per game day roster

He will see the field just a matter or when and where!  Maybe on 3-4 sets.

[Blue In BC]

I think against the Lions we wanted faster more mobile players to play outside contain than inside contain. Hence a player like Ayers over an interior player like Woods as a choice. Griffin as well could fill that in a 34 defence as well.

When we play a team with a stronger interior run game, we may see a roster change.

Overall, I also think we'll see some changes every now and then in order to keep all the choices fresh and reflect the opponent to some degree.

I think we all agree that having a larger roster would be a great idea, but ratio plays a part in that discussion. Many of the players going to 1 game IR are healthy scratches and being paid in full. No problem with that but roster size / ratio means we pay players not to play.

That's unfortunate but we understand the domino effect. Bigger roster with more Americans mean less reps for Canadians also being developed.

I'm still wondering what's happening with the revenue sharing money. Adding it to SMS for the season isn't really revenue sharing per se. It means we'll see more players being carried on 1 game IR as a form of expanded roster. At least more than in previous seasons.

Anyway. I expect all the players on the 1 game IR will be shuffled onto the game day roster as some point. It won't be directly due to injuries or performance of those on the AR. In some cases perhaps, but largely as roster rotation for fresh legs etc.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

That's where he shows on the depth char on page 1t. We know that doesn't mean much aside that he's on the AR. I'm glad we found a way to do that but disappointed we couldn't keep J. Jones as well. Again needing a 3rd import OL meant losing one import on defence.

We'll see some 34 defences and in that sense he could be a rusher / DE type.

I think I mentioned during free agency or early TC that we should be on the hunt for another Canadian OL.

Yep, sorry - I meant who saw that coming. That's likely the plan - he could be an interesting player there. He's a bit light but as a second down defensive end in passing situations he could be great. Don't recall him lining up there last year at all so it's a blank slate. Also makes sense why he survived the linebacker cut downs because he's pretty clearly not near the top of the new charts there

[ModAdmin]

Game 1: Lions (1-0) at Blue Bombers (0-0)

Kickoff: Thursday, June 12th, 7:30 p.m. CDT; Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg
TV/Streaming: TSN 1/3/4; RDS; CBS SportsNetwork; CFL+
Radio: 680 CJOB (pre-game begins at 5:30 p.m.); Play-by-play: Derek Taylor/analyst: Doug Brown; Sirius XM (ch. 167)

Scene Setter

They impatiently gritted their teeth, sat back and watched as the rest of the Canadian Football League got to work last week while they had a bye.

And then — pure speculation here — they undoubtedly scrolled past all of those posts from the Toronto Argonauts just a few days ago celebrating the unveiling of their 2024 Grey Cup bling.

So let it be said that as much as there is the usual giddy excitement as the curtain goes up on the start of another Winnipeg Blue Bombers season for Thursday night's home opener against the B.C. Lions, the constant reminders of what happened at the end of '24 — and '23 and '22 — are inescapable.

Yes, to borrow an old phrase here, all those Blue Bombers who have been a part of this recent Grey Cup run that features five straight appearances, two championships but three straight losses enter 2025 carrying so much emotional baggage they need their own bell hops.

And that means for that crew all those same expectations and pressures remain for a club still very much a championship contender......

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/06/11/game-preview-home-opener-blue-bombers-vs-lions/

[Blueforlife]

Yep, sorry - I meant who saw that coming. That's likely the plan - he could be an interesting player there. He's a bit light but as a second down defensive end in passing situations he could be great. Don't recall him lining up there last year at all so it's a blank slate. Also makes sense why he survived the linebacker cut downs because he's pretty clearly not near the top of the new charts there

If he can fill in on DE and / LB could be a good depth player to keep around
Has promise
Excited to get reports on how he does
Sometimes hard to catch the rotational players impacts

[Blue In BC]

Yep, sorry - I meant who saw that coming. That's likely the plan - he could be an interesting player there. He's a bit light but as a second down defensive end in passing situations he could be great. Don't recall him lining up there last year at all so it's a blank slate. Also makes sense why he survived the linebacker cut downs because he's pretty clearly not near the top of the new charts there

I don't know that's really a surprise. We saw all our LB's doing stuff like that in 2024 when we went to a 3 DL front. Wilson was pretty good off the edge. Hard to tell whether he lined up like a DE or did that from his LB spot.

Perhaps it's a bit of a surprise they choose Ayers over J. Jones but maybe he's faster and a bit more mobile. I thought J. Jones would line up more at WIL and MLB. So maybe that was the deciding factor? Our LB's are good and I like Ayers. OTOH Woodbey looked good in pre-season too. Our Canadian draft choices got lots of playing time.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I don't know that's really a surprise. We saw all our LB's doing stuff like that in 2024 when we went to a 3 DL front. Wilson was pretty good off the edge. Hard to tell whether he lined up like a DE or did that from his LB spot.

Perhaps it's a bit of a surprise they choose Ayers over J. Jones but maybe he's faster and a bit more mobile. I thought J. Jones would line up more at WIL and MLB. So maybe that was the deciding factor? Our LB's are good and I like Ayers. OTOH Woodbey looked good in pre-season too. Our Canadian draft choices got lots of playing time.

Ayers is currently filling the same role as Cole did, Swiss Army Knife.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Needing Vibert or Thomas to step in due to emergency would be scary. The elephant in the room is how long might Neufeld be out if at all?

Eli before Vibert or Jake.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Sure, but Lofton was out all of training camp and Neufeld just tweaked something the other day. I'm not going to pretend that teams don't play games like that, but I think that's a very low percentage possibility.

Apparently Neuf collided with Brady at practice yesterday and came up lame.

[kkc60]

Not too big a fan of the pass rush we are putting out there, seems like this defense is going to rely on good coverage. Hopefully it works.

[gobombersgo]

Ayers is currently filling the same role as Cole did, Swiss Army Knife.

Ayers might be tasked to contain Rourke.

If Suitor is doing the game we'll hear him calling Ayers the spy about 50 times.

[gobombersgo]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers scratch Dillon Mitchell for season-opener against B.C. Lions
By 3Down Staff -June 11, 2025

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have set their roster for Thursday's matchup against the B.C. Lions and it doesn't include veteran receiver Dillon Mitchell.

The 28-year-old, who caught 130 passes for 1,896 yards and 12 touchdowns over three seasons in Edmonton, has been moved to the one-game injured list as a healthy scratch. Keric Wheatfall, who caught two touchdown passes during the preseason, will start at boundary wide receiver as part of a receiving corps that also includes Dalton Schoen, Nic Demski, Jerreth Sterns, and Kevens Clercius.

Two-time CFL M.O.P. quarterback Zach Collaros will not play against the Lions due to a one-game suspension he received just prior to training camp, leaving Chris Streveler in the No. 1 role. The 30-year-old, who went 1-0 as a starter in 2024, will be backed up under centre by second-year passer Terry Wilson and rookie Chase Artopoeus.

Veteran offensive lineman Patrick Neufeld has been listed as a game-time decision at right guard, while Kendall Randolph will start at right tackle in place of an injured Eric Lofton. Micah Vanterpool will start at left guard, giving the Blue Bombers three American starters along the offensive line.

On the defensive line, Devin Adams will start at defensive tackle alongside Jake Thomas. Jamal Woods, who started 14 games last year, has been placed on the one-game injured list as a healthy scratch. The starting defensive ends will be veterans Willie Jefferson and James Vaughters.

Winnipeg's starting linebackers have remained the same from last year, though top CFL draft picks Connor Shay and Jaylen Smith were added to improve the unit's depth.

Jamal Parker will start at safety, a spot that was vacated by veteran Brandon Alexander, while Marquise Bridges has won the starting job at field-side cornerback. Trey Vaval, his backup, will handle return duties.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-0) will host the B.C. Lions (1-0) at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday, June 12 with kickoff slated for 8:30 p.m. EDT.

https://3downnation.com/2025/06/11/winnipeg-blue-bombers-scratch-dillon-mitchell-for-season-opener-against-b-c-lions/

[Pigskin]

I would say 6 DLs, and a LB playing DE.  I know we have to find a spot for Ayer's as he was our top ST play last season. But I really don't like is the 9 LBs and with Ayers it's actually 10. Do we really need 10 LBs.

Neufled out on the field today, apparently dancing around.

[gobombersgo]

B.C. Lions make two roster changes ahead of matchup with Winnipeg Blue Bombers
By 3Down Staff -June 11, 2025

The B.C. Lions have kept their roster relatively consistent for Thursday night's game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

All 24 starters are being carried over from last week when the Lions knocked off the visiting Edmonton Elks by a score of 31-14. Nathan Rourke threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns in the win, two of which went to second-year receiver Stanley Berryhill III.

Canadian offensive lineman Tyler Packer is dressing in a depth role after missing the season-opener due to a shoulder injury, while American linebacker Devin Richardson has been promoted from the practice roster. B.C. will once again start four American offensive linemen, only this time there will be two Canadian backups.

American linebacker Jeremy Lewis has come off the roster, as has Canadian linebacker Deshawn Stevens. Neither player practiced this week due to injury and both have been moved to the one-game injured list.

Players who remain out for the Lions include Canadian linebacker Adam Auclair (shoulder), Canadian offensive lineman David Foucault (leg), and American linebacker Josh Woods (knee). Auclair and Woods are on the one-game injured list, while Foucault is on the six-game injured list.

The Lions went 1-2 against Winnipeg in 2024, splitting the two meetings at Princess Auto Stadium.

The B.C. Lions (1-0) will visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-0) on Thursday, June 12 with kickoff slated for 8:30 p.m. EDT.

https://3downnation.com/2025/06/11/b-c-lions-make-two-roster-changes-ahead-of-matchup-with-winnipeg-blue-bombers/