Official Game Day Thread - Ottawa at Winnipeg, August 14, 2025

[Jesse]

Is the depth chart listed somewhere and is Allen the only addition?

Depth chart linked on the Bomber website in their game preview and Allen is the only addition. Him for Bonds.

[Blue In BC]

Depth chart linked on the Bomber website in their game preview and Allen is the only addition. Him for Bonds.

I looked there and the last depth chart was for the Calgary game?

Anyway, the depth chart shows the changes on the AR. What it actually means as to who is playing there is another thing.

Kelly was listed 4th on the depth chart at safety ahead of Hallett and Ball last week with Kramdi as the starter.

So I wonder who will actually start and will Allen see defensive reps?

[Slingin Sammy]

Depth chart linked on the Bomber website in their game preview and Allen is the only addition. Him for Bonds.

Here's the link
https://static.cfl.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/OTTAWA-at-WINNIPEG_AUGUST-14-1.pdf

[ModAdmin]

Game Preview - Ottawa @ Winnipeg...

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/08/13/game-preview-ott-at-wpg-2/

[Blueforlife]

cross over implications too

way too early to plan for that imo, stretching a bit imo, yes a big game but it's early in the season and there is a lot of ball to be played

Guess Lawson, Logan and Vanterpool aren't good enough to come back yet

yeah don't want to rush them

As expected not that many changes, nice for Allen to come in as a depth guy, get his feet wet 1st, have to see how many reps at safety Kelly vs. Kramdi.  Did others see us playing two safeties at times in the past? I could be wrong.

[ModAdmin]

Ottawa player changes...

https://3downnation.com/2025/08/13/ottawa-redblacks-make-three-defensive-changes-for-game-against-blue-bombers/

[Blueforlife]

Ottawa player changes...

https://3downnation.com/2025/08/13/ottawa-redblacks-make-three-defensive-changes-for-game-against-blue-bombers/

Looks like we could feast on these weaknesses! I don't know the replacements coming in but sounds like some issues there.

[The Zipp]

way too early to plan for that imo, stretching a bit imo, yes a big game but it's early in the season and there is a lot of ball to be playedyeah don't want to rush them

As expected not that many changes, nice for Allen to come in as a depth guy, get his feet wet 1st, have to see how many reps at safety Kelly vs. Kramdi.  Did others see us playing two safeties at times in the past? I could be wrong.

Strongly disagree

points in July and August count the same as points in November - there is a legit chance we need a cross over spot to get in the playoffs so beating an eastern team helps.  The season isn't decided in October - it is based on games played through out the season.  Ideally we win every game but that isn't likely so we need some key losses by our opponents to help.

Never to early to plan all the ways of getting into the playoffs.  The three against Sask are huge - we lost the 3 to Calgary, losing 3 to Sask would be devastating.

[Jesse]

I looked there and the last depth chart was for the Calgary game?

Anyway, the depth chart shows the changes on the AR. What it actually means as to who is playing there is another thing.

Kelly was listed 4th on the depth chart at safety ahead of Hallett and Ball last week with Kramdi as the starter.

So I wonder who will actually start and will Allen see defensive reps?

I don't know if we've ever actually seen Kramdi play safety. I'm hoping Allen gets those reps this week.

That and maybe Mitchell playing a larger role on offence may help some.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

way too early to plan for that imo, stretching a bit imo, yes a big game but it's early in the season and there is a lot of ball to be playedyeah don't want to rush them

As expected not that many changes, nice for Allen to come in as a depth guy, get his feet wet 1st, have to see how many reps at safety Kelly vs. Kramdi.  Did others see us playing two safeties at times in the past? I could be wrong.

Kelly is going to get hopefully zero reps tomorrow. He was not close to being ready.

[Blue In BC]

I don't know if we've ever actually seen Kramdi play safety. I'm hoping Allen gets those reps this week.

That and maybe Mitchell playing a larger role on offence may help some.

I don't know what we'll see but yes, hopefully Allen sees some reps on defence. If he doesn't then what was the point of adding him and not Woods or Logan as an example. I'm not sure if Kramdi has actually taken reps at safety either.

BTW. What does Logan have to do to make the AR? He's practising at full now. With Vaval taking on starting role at CB, he should have been considered to be on the AR.

The same applies for Lawson. He was on the AR before injury and now he can't bump Schmekel?

[gobombersgo]

[gobombersgo]

[blue_gold_84]

I didn't expect many changes to the lineup as it's a very short week. But, I would think that the Bombers are kicking the tires on a few players. A player like Chungh would improve our OL. Landing a player like Houston, would add the experience our DB group needs right now.

No one's going to touch that guy until his legal troubles are resolved. That's why the Stampeders released him.

[gobombersgo]

Breakout returner Trey Vaval to start in battered Blue Bombers secondary against Redblacks
By John Hodge -August 13, 2025

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have promoted rookie returner Trey Vaval to a starting role at boundary cornerback following yet another injury to their secondary.

The 24-year-old native of Blue Springs, Mo. has seen action at cornerback in each of the team's past three games, though he's yet to make a start. In Week 8, he took the place of a benched Marquise Bridges at field-side cornerback, then he replaced an injured Jamal Parker in Week 9. Last week, he took over at boundary cornerback from Terrell Bonds, who announced on Tuesday that he's out for the season due to a knee injury.

Vaval has made nine defensive tackles and three special teams tackles through eight career CFL games but has become a household name due to his work as a returner. The five-foot-eleven, 163-pound speedster leads the CFL with 528 punt return yards, ranks fourth with 457 kickoffs return yards, and has two return touchdowns.

With Bonds being moved to the six-game injured list, the Blue Bombers have promoted rookie defensive back Cam Allen to the active roster. The six-foot-one, 195-pound native of Bluefield, Va. was a standout at Purdue University where he made 203 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, 13 interceptions, 31 pass knockdowns, four forced fumbles, and one blocked kick over 56 games. He has been listed as the backup safety behind Redha Kramdi.

The rest of Winnipeg's roster remains unchanged following last week's loss to the Calgary Stampeders, during which the team struggled offensively in the second half. Zach Collaros completed 21-of-26 pass attempts for 214 yards and one touchdown, though almost half that yardage went to running back Brady Oliveira as Kevens Clercius, the team's leading receiver, managed only 32 yards.

Players who remain on Winnipeg's one-game injured list include running back and returner Peyton Logan, offensive lineman Micah Vanterpool, defensive lineman Cameron Lawson, and defensive back Jamal Parker. Those who remain on the six-game injured list include receivers Kody Case and Dalton Schoen, offensive lineman Eric Lofton, linebacker Lane Novak, and defensive backs Bonds and Enock Makonzo.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-4) will host the Ottawa Redblacks (3-6) at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday, August 14 with kickoff slated for 8:30 p.m. EDT. The Redblacks are coming off a 46-42 win over the Toronto Argonauts, while the Blue Bombers suffered a walk-off loss to the Calgary Stampeders.

The weather forecast in Winnipeg calls for a high of 29 degrees with a 60 percent chance of showers and a risk of a thunderstorm. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on TSN 1200 in Ottawa and 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.

https://3downnation.com/2025/08/13/breakout-returner-trey-vaval-to-start-in-battered-blue-bombers-secondary-against-redblacks/