Blue Bombers roster - 2025-2026

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Derek Taylor  @DTonOB
Bombers QB Zach Collaros has re-structured his contract, per the CFL transaction wire.

This is usually a cap move to convert money to guaranteed money and aid both the player and team.

Last May Collaros signed an extension through the 2026 season.

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Zach Collaros restructures 2026 CFL contract with Winnipeg Blue Bombers
By Justin Dunk -March 6, 2026

Veteran quarterback Zach Collaros has agreed to a restructured contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, which saves the team $50,000 in salary cap space for the 2026 season, per sources.

Collaros received two separate $100,000 offseason bonuses as scheduled on January 1 and January 15. Under his old deal, he would have earned an additional $400,000 in base salary, bringing his total earnings to an even $600,000.

However, Collaros' new contract will now pay him $300,000 in base salary. That came with a $50,000 signing bonus, maxing out at $550,000 in hard money. The 13-year veteran remains the CFL's third-highest-paid QB behind Nathan Rourke at $684,000 and Chad Kelly at $625,000 for the upcoming campaign.

https://3downnation.com/2026/03/06/zach-collaros-restructures-2026-cfl-contract-with-winnipeg-blue-bombers/

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Zach Collaros restructures 2026 CFL contract with Winnipeg Blue Bombers
By Justin Dunk -March 6, 2026

Veteran quarterback Zach Collaros has agreed to a restructured contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, which saves the team $50,000 in salary cap space for the 2026 season, per sources.

Collaros received two separate $100,000 offseason bonuses as scheduled on January 1 and January 15. Under his old deal, he would have earned an additional $400,000 in base salary, bringing his total earnings to an even $600,000.

However, Collaros' new contract will now pay him $300,000 in base salary. That came with a $50,000 signing bonus, maxing out at $550,000 in hard money. The 13-year veteran remains the CFL's third-highest-paid QB behind Nathan Rourke at $684,000 and Chad Kelly at $625,000 for the upcoming campaign.

https://3downnation.com/2026/03/06/zach-collaros-restructures-2026-cfl-contract-with-winnipeg-blue-bombers/

Seems kind of dumb not to write off a large chunk of his salary as marketing money, if nothing else he is a regular host of the Bomber podcasts.

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers QB Chase Artopoeus retires from CFL
By 3Down Staff -March 11, 2026

Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Chase Artopoeus has retired after one season in the Canadian Football League.

The 25-year-old passer spent the 2025 season in the Manitoba capital, dressing for five regular-season games in a depth role.

"So grateful to have played the sport and position I love for a long time. Recently, after a lot of thinking and looking towards the future, I took a step back and decided to officially step away and retire from the CFL," Artopoeus wrote on Instagram.

"Am very thankful to everyone along the way that impacted my career in one way or another. It's been an up and down ride definitely, but I still believe that type of ride to be the best kind!

Lastly, I'm very fortunate to have the opportunity to stay around the game and coach some of the best QBs in the Chattanooga area and across the country. Being able to do so made this decision one that brings tons of excitement! Can't wait for what is to come!"

Artopoeus signed with the Blue Bombers in May last year after a six-year collegiate career with UCLA (2019-2022) and Tennessee-Chattanooga (2023-2024).

The native of Orcutt, Calif. started 15 games during his tenure with the Mocs, completing 61 percent of his passes for 3,730 yards with 23 touchdowns versus nine interceptions. He also rushed 76 times for 152 yards with four touchdowns.

The six-foot-one, 206-pound QB started his collegiate career with UCLA under Chip Kelly and saw action in two games during the 2022 season after spending his first three seasons on the scout and travel team.

Following the retirement of Artopoeus, the Blue Bombers now have four quarterbacks under contract for 2026: Zach Collaros, Terry Wilson, Bryce Perkins, and Payton Thorne.

https://3downnation.com/2026/03/11/winnipeg-blue-bombers-qb-chase-artopoeus-retires-from-cfl/

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Transactions:

2026-03-12    WPG    ARTOPOEUS, Chase    QB    A    Chattanooga    TRF TO RETIRED    Retired


Blue Bombers Transactions - (Official Announcement)

WINNIPEG, MB., March, 16, 2026 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has transferred American quarterback Chase Artopoeus to the retired list.

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CFL, NFL quarterback Chris Streveler retires from professional football
by 3Down Staff  March 29, 2026

Former CFL and NFL quarterback Chris Streveler has officially announced his retirement from professional football.

The 31-year-old shared a video montage of his career highlights on Instagram with a voiceover revealing his decision.

Streveler became a free agent on February 10, when his contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers expired. He is currently undergoing rehab after suffering a torn left ACL late in the 2025 season, which required surgery. It marked the second year in a row that he had suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Streveler first burst onto the scene in 2018 as a rookie out of the University of South Dakota, making four starts to open the year in place of an injured Matt Nichols. A year later, he would make eight more and play an integral package role en route to the Bombers breaking their 29-year Grey Cup drought. He would rise to the level of cult hero amidst the celebrations, showing up to the parade shirtless with an open fur coat and cowboy hat.

The six-foot-two, 220-pound dual-threat pivot translated his performance into an NFL opportunity, signing with the Arizona Cardinals. He dressed for seven games with the team over two seasons, later spending time with the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins.

The native of Naperville, Ill., landed with the New York Jets in 2022 and appeared in two more games, making his first-ever NFL start. In four seasons south of the border, he completed 27-of-40 pass attempts for 231 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while rushing 16 times for 75 yards.

Streveler returned to Winnipeg in 2024 and assumed his role as the primary backup behind Zach Collaros. He made one start that season and five this past year, bringing his total to 18 for his career.

Over 66 career regular-season CFL games, Streveler has thrown for 4,144 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions, and rushed 359 times for 1,740 yards and 41 scores.

The Bombers are expected to have a competition for the backup quarterback job in training camp. Terry Wilson is entering his third season with limited experience, while the club has also signed former UFL MVP Bryce Perkins and Auburn star Payton Thorne. 2025 CFL Draft pick Taylor Elgersma remains unsigned.

https://3downnation.com/2026/03/29/cfl-nfl-quarterback-chris-streveler-retires-from-professional-football/

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Transactions:

2026-04-08   WPG   Fredericksen, Christian   WR   A   Idaho State   ADD   Active Roster

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign wide receiver Christian Fredericksen
April 8, 2026 Michael Heilman

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed wide receiver Christian Fredericksen on Wednesday according to the CFL Transactions page.

Christian Fredericksen is six foot four and weighs 208 pounds. A native of Rigby, Idaho, Fredericksen spent five seasons at Idaho State University (2020-24) with 164 catches for 2,312 yards and 18 touchdowns in 49 games for the Tigers. He concluded his collegiate career as one of the top-10 receivers in school history.

In 2023, Fredericksen made 53 catches for 791 yards and five touchdowns. In 2024, he was named First Team All-Big Sky Conference after finishing the season with a career-high 67 catches for 936 yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 6.1 catches per game and 85.1 yards per game.

https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2026/04/08/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-wide-receiver-christian-fredericksen/

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Blue Bombers Add Receiver

WINNIPEG, MB., April 9, 2026 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has signed American wide receiver Christian Fredericksen.

Fredericksen (6-3, 208, Idaho State; born: February 8, 2002, in Rigby, ID.) joins the Bombers after a five-year collegiate career with Idaho State (2020-2024).

In his collegiate career, Fredericksen totalled 148 receptions for 2,071 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 14.0 yards per catch.

In his 2024 season, Fredericksen recorded 66 receptions for 915 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 13.9 yards per catch and was named First Team All Big-Sky Conference. He averaged 6.1 receptions and 85.1 receiving yards per game.

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Blue Bombers sign quarterback Taylor Elgersma

WINNIPEG, MB., April 16, 2026 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has signed Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma.

Elgersma (6-5, 227, Wilfrid Laurier University; born: March 27, 2002, in London, Ont.) joins the club after being selected in the second round, 18th overall, of the 2025 CFL Canadian Draft.

He was most recently with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL but did not see any action due to work visa issues.

Following the CFL Draft last spring, Elgersma was signed by the Green Bay Packers on May 12, 2025, attended training camp and appeared in three NFL preseason games, completing 16-of-23 passes for 166 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

He was released by the Packers after training camp and then had NFL looks from the New York Giants, San Franciso 49ers, Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins before joining the Stallions.

Elgersma's days at Wilfrid Laurier were capped by a 2024 season in which he captured the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in U Sports football after throwing for 4,252 yards and 35 touchdowns against 11 interceptions for the Golden Hawks. He then became the first quarterback from a Canadian university to participate in the Senior Bowl.

Elgersma was a U Sports First Team All-Canadian in 2024 and a Second Team All-Canadian in 2023.

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Elgersma on board with Blue Bombers
April 16, 2026   by Ed Tait

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers long, long wait for quarterback Taylor Elgersma is now over.

Elgersma and the Blue Bombers officially agreed to terms on a standard rookie contract (two years plus an option) late Thursday afternoon and the Canadian pivot will now report for rookie camp on May 6th.

He will hold a Zoom call with the media Friday afternoon.

Selected in the second round, 18th overall, in last year's CFL Canadian Draft, Elgersma was signed by the Green Bay Packers last May as an undrafted NFL free agent. He attended training camp with the Packers and appeared in three NFL preseason games, completing 16-of-23 passes for 166 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.

He was released by the Packers after training camp and then had NFL looks from the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins before joining the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL.

The Stallions are already three games into their 2026 season but Elgersma had yet to suit up for the team as he was not able to secure his U.S. work visa, despite multiple attempts by the Birmingham management staff.

"I've got a lot of things to say about it, I'm just going to leave it as it's something you should probably ask the league about," said Stallions head coach AJ McCarron in an interview with @Birmingham Sport last Friday.

"It's been a nightmare to deal with and I've gone as a GM, head coach and now an immigration officer, having to do a lot of things. I'm trying as much as I can. I have everybody on it that I know... for me to call Senator Tuberville and work with the State of Alabama."

McCarron said the club would continue to pursue landing the work visa for Elgersma right up until Wednesday of this week. When those attempts failed, Elgersma — who had committed to the Stallions in the hopes his work there might get him another NFL look — then turned his attention to the Blue Bombers and a return to Canada.

His addition changes the Blue Bombers quarterback room significantly. Zach Collaros remains the clear-cut QB1 as a former two-time winner of the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award and won of the most prolific passers in franchise history. He is also now 37 and heading into the final year of his current contract while coming off a season in which he missed five starts.

With veteran Chris Streveler having recently retired and Chase Artopoeus also opting to step away from the game, Terry Wilson is now the lone quarterback behind Collaros with CFL experience. That said, while he has dressed for 36 games over the last two seasons, he has attempted just 21 passes, completing 11, in limited action — most of it in a win over the Montreal Alouettes in last year's regular season finale in which some veterans were rested for the playoffs.

The club also signed two other pivots in the offseason.

Bryce Perkins, 29, was the UFL's MVP and Offensive Player of the Year last season with the Michigan Panthers and also started one game during his time with the Los Angeles Rams, including being part of their Super Bowl LVI championship.

Payton Thorne, 24, was in camp last season with the Cincinnati Bengals after signing as an undrafted free agent. He spent three seasons at Michigan State before transferring to Auburn where he made 22 starts.
Elgersma now brings his considerable U Sports resumé to Winnipeg's QB fold. A 6-5, 227-pound beast with a howitzer arm, he was compared by Collaros to Ivan Drago, the fictional gigantic Russian fighter in Rocky IV.

"I threw one time with him last year," said Collaros in February of Elgersma. "Walked in, I just couldn't believe how tall he was. I didn't know who he was, to be quite honest with you. I thought he was a tight end or a left tackle or something. Not that he's a heavy dude, but he's big. Like Ivan Drago, honestly. Really, it was like, 'If he dies, he dies.'  (Quote from Drago after his pounding of Apollo Creed leads to him dying in Rocky's arms).

"Big guy. He throws it very hard. Seemed like a good guy. Spent about an hour and a half throwing with him. I think this was before we drafted him. Seemed like a great dude, and has a lot of physical gifts, for sure."

Elgersma was sensational during his days at Wilfrid Laurier, where he was a U Sports First Team All-Canadian in 2024 and a Second Team All-Canadian in 2023.

He capped his collegiate career by capturing the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in U Sports football in 2024 after throwing for 4,252 yards and 35 interceptions against 11 interceptions for the Golden Hawks. He then became the first quarterback from a Canadian university to participate in the Senior Bowl, which earned him so much NFL attention over the last year.

Rookies are on the field for Blue Bombers training camp from May 6-8th, with main camp opening on Sunday, May 10th.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/04/16/elgersma-on-board-with-blue-bombers/

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Transactions:

2026-04-17   WPG   ELGERSMA, Taylor   QB   N   Wilfrid Laurier   ADD   Active Roster

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Adam Bighill retires as a Blue Bomber
April 20, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the signing of Adam Bighill to a one-day contract so he can officially retire as a member of the football club.

Bighill, 37, spent six of his 13 Canadian Football League seasons with the Blue Bombers (2018-24) and played his final game as a member of the Calgary Stampeders last year.

Bighill was part of two Grey Cup championship teams in Winnipeg, winning in 2019 and 2021. Ninety-four of his career 199 regular season games were with the Blue Bombers. He also appeared in 99 games as a member of the B.C. Lions (2011-16) and six last season with the Stampeders while spending parts of 2017-18 with the New Orleans Saints.

A dominant force on the field at the middle linebacker position and a vocal leader in the locker room, Bighill was named a CFL All-Star six times, including in 2018 and 2021 with the Blue Bombers and was the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player three times, twice with Winnipeg in 2018 and 2021.

Bighill was named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Player in 2018 and the club's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2018 and 2021. He ranks second all-time in franchise history in defensive tackles with 430 behind Greg Battle (587) and sixth on the CFL's career tackles list with 951.

After an outstanding collegiate career at Central Washington, Bighill first turned pro with the Lions in 2011 and was part of B.C.'s Grey Cup championship team that season.

Bighill and his family continue to live in Winnipeg.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/04/20/adam-bighill-retires-as-a-blue-bomber/

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Transactions:

2026-04-20   WPG   JACKSON, Matthew   DB   A   Eastern Kentucky   ADD   Active Roster

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-sign linebacker Matthew Jackson
April 20, 2026 Michael Heilman

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-signed linebacker Matthew Jackson on Monday according to the CFL Transactions page.

Matthew Jackson is six foot one and weighs 209 pounds. The 27-year-old from Chicago, Illinois, signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on October 2, 2025. He spent the season on the practice squad. The Blue Bombers released him on October 31, 2025.

The Tennessee Titans signed Jackson as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. In 2023, he made four tackles (2 solos, 2 assists) in three preseason games. Jackson appeared in 10 regular-season games with six tackles (3 solos, 3 assists).

In 2024, he made four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist) in three preseason games. The Titans released him on August 27, 2024. The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Jackson to the practice squad on August 29, 2024. He dressed for one game and became a free agent after the 2024 season.

Collegiately, Jackson played five seasons at Eastern Kentucky University (2018-22) with 294 tackles (170 solos, 124 assists), 27.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two interceptions for 41 yards, 14 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries in 50 games for the Colonels. Jackson was named First Team All-ASUN, First Team All-ASUN by Phil Steele, Fourth Team All-American by Phil Steele and DraftScout, and Third Team All-American by Stats Perform.

https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2026/04/20/winnipeg-blue-bombers-re-sign-linebacker-matthew-jackson/