2026 Rookie Training Camp

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

[pdirks67]

I've been to quite a few training camp practices over the last 3 years. There are usually 4 or 5 media guys sitting at the top of the viewing area, kibbutzing around and watching the practices. I went on Thursday and none of them were in their usual spot. I think it's just a bit early - how much effort is warranted for rookie camp? I'd be surprised if a bunch of them aren't there next week.

[Tecno]

Still think it is Zach, Perkins, Elgersma.

Almost impossible.  If Zach gets injured week 1 halfway through the game with one of his "neck/head" things that lasts 2 games... what do you do?

Perkins would flounder with zero 3down / CFL-D-reading experience.  Elgersma: well, you'd have to hope he's not on the next Rourke, but better than the next Rourke -- starter ready in first 2 weeks of pro career.

AND that would assume big Elgersma shows he can 95% sneak from day 1.

So I think Wilson's job is safe -- he can do both.  SY is 95%-ish, and he showed in the '24 GC he's not completely without ability to read a D and make a pass.

The problem is, Wilson probably isn't our "future".  Perkins or Elgersma could be.  It's a tough battle/compromise between good-now and good-future.

My guess is Perkins gets the boot but is the first one dialed up if one of our 3 keepers gets injured.

[Tecno]

The short clips WFC is posting to youtube with BTS from camp are really nice.  Lions have been doing this for a few years now.  I think this is the first time we're getting more insights into the seemingly-banal process.  I like it!  More of those please.

[BomberFan73]

Almost impossible.  If Zach gets injured week 1 halfway through the game with one of his "neck/head" things that lasts 2 games... what do you do?

Perkins would flounder with zero 3down / CFL-D-reading experience.  Elgersma: well, you'd have to hope he's not on the next Rourke, but better than the next Rourke -- starter ready in first 2 weeks of pro career.

AND that would assume big Elgersma shows he can 95% sneak from day 1.

So I think Wilson's job is safe -- he can do both.  SY is 95%-ish, and he showed in the '24 GC he's not completely without ability to read a D and make a pass.

The problem is, Wilson probably isn't our "future".  Perkins or Elgersma could be.  It's a tough battle/compromise between good-now and good-future.

My guess is Perkins gets the boot but is the first one dialed up if one of our 3 keepers gets injured.

If Zach goes down, then we fly Wilson (or any CFL vet) back in. As you said - he's not the future.
Besides, while Wilson knows CFL a bit better, Perkins has actually played meaningful games over the past 2 years.
You can't keep Wilson over Perkins if Perkins is the better QB, just because of insurance.

[Blueforlife]

What's chances that our 4th qb takes a PR spot.  I don't think its very good.

This battle at Qb will be one for ages.

Anyone think someone would scoop our #4?

[Blue In BC]

What's chances that our 4th qb takes a PR spot.  I don't think its very good.

This battle at Qb will be one for ages.

Anyone think someone would scoop our #4?

Perkins or Thorne might but we don't usually do that with limited PR spots. Every other team has their own # 4 or # 5 that they have to deal with plus their neg list.

QB's cut after TC rarely land elsewhere unless they have som CFL experience. In the case of the Bombers that might be Wilson. OTOH, we might see our reserve list used as early insurance for Elgersma or Wilson.

It's depends on where they rank after TC and that's all guesswork at the moment. I guess the fate of Wilson decides the pecking order to some degree. He could end up anywhere from # 2 to released outright. I'm not dissing him but, if he isn't moving up then I suspect he's moving out.

[Blue In BC]

So we made our 1st cuts after rookie camp. No real surprise but Johnny Hodges was listed as a player to watch and he's the 1st LB to go.

Two DB's placed on suspended list which I take as " no shows " to rookie camp? Always a couple of those each year.

Novak to injured veteran list and I'm not quite sure what the means. Other teams adding some directly to 6 game IR. So does that mean Novak might be available sooner or is it just a delay in doing that?

Have we made all the cuts necessary?  I expected a few more. Regardless a few won't last more than a couple of days in the main TC and a few new bodies will be brought in.

EDIT: CFL.CA shows Battle ( DB ) and Mayes ( WR ) transferred to retired.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Perkins or Thorne might but we don't usually do that with limited PR spots. Every other team has their own # 4 or # 5 that they have to deal with plus their neg list.

QB's cut after TC rarely land elsewhere unless they have som CFL experience. In the case of the Bombers that might be Wilson. OTOH, we might see our reserve list used as early insurance for Elgersma or Wilson.

It's depends on where they rank after TC and that's all guesswork at the moment. I guess the fate of Wilson decides the pecking order to some degree. He could end up anywhere from # 2 to released outright. I'm not dissing him but, if he isn't moving up then I suspect he's moving out.

Sask. often holds onto 4 QB's but not many other teams do, might be wise for the Bombers to keep #4 on the PR this season if they show more promise than Wilson, but so far reviews have not been glowing.

Totally disagree with discarding Terry Wilson early, he's their only reasonable backup right now and he hasn't been given enough rope to hang himself.  Maybe by mid-season they'll be more secure in making that decision but hope it's based on real performance evaluation were each candidate gets a fair chance to illustrate their skill.  Hoping Condell brings a big upgrade in QB development as the Bombers have been abysmal at it for decades.

[Stats Junkie]

Novak to injured veteran list and I'm not quite sure what the means. Other teams adding some directly to 6 game IR. So does that mean Novak might be available sooner or is it just a delay in doing that?

Teams can place up to 2 players on the 'injured veteran' list in training camp. Those players are essentially non-counters now. The trade off is an injured veteran cannot participate in training camp practices and must miss the opening game of the regular season.

[Blue In BC]

Teams can place up to 2 players on the 'injured veteran' list in training camp. Those players are essentially non-counters now. The trade off is an injured veteran cannot participate in training camp practices and must miss the opening game of the regular season.

Well missing 1 game is preferable to seeing a player hit the 6 game IR right off the bat. So in the case of Novak that might be encouraging that he'll be back sooner than later. Having them now as non counters helps the roster shuffling math.

Thanks for the explanation.

[LXTSN]

I disagree with the notion that we need Terry Wilson on the roster because the other options have no CFL experience.

Terry Wilson's last professional start was in the USFL back in 2021. That's also his only pro start. He has thrown a total of 39 in-game passes in the pros.

Bryce Perkins's last professional start was in 2025 and he's thrown a total of 290 passes in the pros. Last season he also took Michigan to the playoffs and won MVP of that league. He's also just one year older than Wilson.

I don't know that Bryce is the answer, but I'd keep an open mind with this QB room!

[theaardvark]

Not sure Wilson is available to "fly in" if cut.  Perkins either.

If Wilson wows in camp and wins the 2nd spot outright, Perkins might accept a PR spot, but with his pedigree, if he even is passable in camp, he could get picked up.  But to keep Wilson due to his tenure with the team when he has played under 2 different OC's, Condell being his third.  So, he has zero knowledge advantage of the system, and has limited familiarity with the receivers/RB, and even the OLine is significantly different.

Thorne, if he adapts to 3 downs well, could land the PR spot.

The question drops to:

Can Elgersma, with his career in the 3 down game, step in in the case of injury early in the season?  Can Perkins show enough to be an injury replacement in training?

Could start the year with ZC8, TE13, BP9 and have Perkins earn his way to QB2?

Not discounting Wilson and his history with the team, and his SY play, but his lack of seizing the QB2 spot in then past brings his ability to do it now, and progress into QB1 into doubt.

If Wilson doesn't nail down QB2 in camp, I'd much rather go forward with Perkins and Elgersma, who both seem to have much higher ceilings.

Condell, as OC and QB coach will have no loyalties to Wilson, and only his own success to base his decisions on. 

[Blue In BC]

Not sure Wilson is available to "fly in" if cut.  Perkins either.

If Wilson wows in camp and wins the 2nd spot outright, Perkins might accept a PR spot, but with his pedigree, if he even is passable in camp, he could get picked up.  But to keep Wilson due to his tenure with the team when he has played under 2 different OC's, Condell being his third.  So, he has zero knowledge advantage of the system, and has limited familiarity with the receivers/RB, and even the OLine is significantly different.

Thorne, if he adapts to 3 downs well, could land the PR spot.

The question drops to:

Can Elgersma, with his career in the 3 down game, step in in the case of injury early in the season?  Can Perkins show enough to be an injury replacement in training?

Could start the year with ZC8, TE13, BP9 and have Perkins earn his way to QB2?

Not discounting Wilson and his history with the team, and his SY play, but his lack of seizing the QB2 spot in then past brings his ability to do it now, and progress into QB1 into doubt.

If Wilson doesn't nail down QB2 in camp, I'd much rather go forward with Perkins and Elgersma, who both seem to have much higher ceilings.

Condell, as OC and QB coach will have no loyalties to Wilson, and only his own success to base his decisions on. 

That's about the size of it. Wilson needs to move up to # 2 or move out to a QB with greater potential. Obviously we don't know much about Perkins or Thorne. Neither may make the roster in any way for all we know at the moment.

Keeping Wilson just as the SY QB is not valuable enough to do that IMO. Can he show progression? Perhaps. TBD.