Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg @ Saskatchewan May 23, 2026

[Pete]

The breakdown of rosters is 45 total
So 19 imports plus qbs so 21. One global, which leaves 23 cdns.
If Munier Bailey is in, that leaves 22.
  That likely moves Cobb to pr. I do think Kelly is on roster in place of Peterson or Hallet. Injuries will play s big part

[Blue In BC]

The breakdown of rosters is 45 total
So 19 imports plus qbs so 21. One global, which leaves 23 cdns.
If Munier Bailey is in, that leaves 22.
  That likely moves Cobb to pr. I do think Kelly is on roster in place of Peterson or Hallet. Injuries will play s big part

Too many designations and rules behind each. I'm less clear every year and now we have an added reserve list.

Normally 16 imports start and teams have 3 at QB. Add in 4 DI's = 23 imports which leaves Canadians at 22 not 23. Since the addition of a minimum global, that drops to 21 Canadians. Having a Canadian QB doesn't impact the counts since QB's are a separate category.

CFL rosters require a minimum of 21 National (Canadian) players on each 45-man active roster. Teams carry a maximum of 45 players, which can be broken down into up to 21 National players (including one nationalized American), up to 19 Americans, and up to two Global players.

If we add a 2nd global that's at the cost of another Canadian dropping down to 20 IIRC.

Kelly over Cobb is a choice but Kelly has become mostly an ST player. Cobb is more versatile but O'Shea likes his veterans so you may be right. Hard to say whether Chris-Ike is the better choice over Peterson as an in game injury replacement.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'm still not sure about how this works. I've been under the impression it's more about the ability to replace a Canadian for a number of snaps. It's not about being able to add another import to the set limit.

If that was the case, Jefferson, Holm, Nichols, Bryant among others would qualify.

The difference is they have a Natl. capable enough to backup Kyrie in Smith when he reaches his snap count, which is not the case for any of those players you've listed.  Switch the ratio at WIL along with Kramdi and Lawson gives them more flexibility along the D-line.

Don't know exactly how that roster rule works though, I think Kyrie would still count as an Import on the roster but on the field he could count as a Natl.

Back in 2019 they were running an 8 man rotation on the D-line with Kongbo, Hansen, and Jake, everyone else on the D was an import.  In recent years they've switched to a 6 man rotation with poor results since Jeffcoat was dumped.

[Blue In BC]

The difference is they have a Natl. capable enough to backup Kyrie in Smith when he reaches his snap count, which is not the case for any of those players you've listed.  Switch the ratio at WIL along with Kramdi and Lawson gives them more flexibility along the D-line.

Don't know exactly how that roster rule works though, I think Kyrie would still count as an Import on the roster but on the field he could count as a Natl.

Back in 2019 they were running an 8 man rotation on the D-line with Kongbo, Hansen, and Jake, everyone else on the D was an import.  In recent years they've switched to a 6 man rotation with poor results since Jeffcoat was dumped.

That's the point. It doesn't add to the number of imports on the roster, I'd think Woodbey would be next man up at WIL in rotation. Smith might start to see more reps but I'm not sure he's next man up.

K. Wilson would still be starting and any possible benefit might exist if he was replacing Smith who was taking most reps starting. In either case, that isn't happening.

So no benefit IMO unless they decide Smith will start. Remember virtually no time on defence last year ( 3 DT's ) to starting this year? Possible but I don't see that to start the season.

Given the depth at WIL, I'd rather delete K. Wilson and add another import DL. I wonder if they are considering Woodbey starting at WIL. That would solve that problem.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Wow, we spot & agree on the same thing!

However, we don't need to run the ball.  I mean, we will, and we want to, but there's no need.  We could be more like BC or HAM the last couple of seasons where it's basically all pass all the time.  If you build the league-best OL you can do that.  5 REC out every play.  Layered routes.

Of course, then there is zero point in tying up your wad in Brady $$$, and thus we won't do that.

But you sure are right that they better solve this run conundrum darn fast or we're in for a ton of -1Y Brady 1st down runs on fully loaded boxes.  Just like '25.  I really don't understand how SSK can get this right with their middling RB and we can't.  Unless Yoshi really is the only RT that can properly road grade!  Ironic, as pretty sure Yoshi is a heck of a lot cheaper than Broxton right now!

Our OL couldn't maintain control of DL last season if our life depended on it.  Every DL could shed us with ease.  It's like we weren't even there.  Sad.

Good thing we hired an OC who is known league-wide for being a run game whiz.  Oh, wait...

Egad, you're describing the Hamilton approach, without much of a running game they haven't been back to the cup since 2021 and have been fluttering up and down like a butterfly.  Most successful teams are following the Bombers footprint with a strong bashing running game, the essential compliment when it's difficult to move the ball downfield through the air.

[Blue In BC]

Egad, you're describing the Hamilton approach, without much of a running game they haven't been back to the cup since 2021 and have been fluttering up and down like a butterfly.  Most successful teams are following the Bombers footprint with a strong bashing running game, the essential compliment when it's difficult to move the ball downfield through the air.

You have to be able to run in the fall in bad weather. We have the highest paid RB in the CFL. We don't have a young athletic runner at QB.  So yes, we're going to run. ALOT.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Wallace should be a human road grader.  He should be literally clearing vast swathes of flesh to making gaping holes for Brady.  Like hosing 3 guys and getting downfield to hose another LB or DB.

But he doesn't.  I don't think I ever saw that even once in '25!!  And his pass pro wasn't the best in '25 either.  So what is he doing there?  That's why many are antsy about the idea of a 3 IMP OL.

MOS is still tooting his horn though, so we should all hope & pray for improvement/growth from '25.  It would appear his pass pro is up to snuff, but still no sign of life in the road grading department.

Maybe he'd be best used as a sealer (surely he can seal off 2-3 guys) with Broxton swinging around (a la Yoshi) and doing the grading.  That's what I'd do.  Didn't see it on Saturday though!  What I did see was SSK's run game pwning us.  Ouch.

Going to disagree with you on Wallace, still see him as the foundation to build the O-line around for the next decade if they treat him right.  None of the others are likely to be around 5 years from now.  Nobody stronger, he can road grade, he can defend well, being so huge he just isn't all that fast.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

That's the point. It doesn't add to the number of imports on the roster, I'd think Woodbey would be next man up at WIL in rotation. Smith might start to see more reps but I'm not sure he's next man up.

K. Wilson would still be starting and any possible benefit might exist if he was replacing Smith who was taking most reps starting. In either case, that isn't happening.

So no benefit IMO unless they decide Smith will start. Remember virtually no time on defence last year ( 3 DT's ) to starting this year? Possible but I don't see that to start the season.

Given the depth at WIL, I'd rather delete K. Wilson and add another import DL. I wonder if they are considering Woodbey starting at WIL. That would solve that problem.

Sure, by next season I would like to see Woodbey, Smith and Shay as starters or heavily involved with Griffin at SAM. That would provide them with a lot more ratio flexibility on defence, which would also help out the offence.

[Blue In BC]

Sure, by next season I would like to see Woodbey, Smith and Shay as starters or heavily involved with Griffin at SAM. That would provide them with a lot more ratio flexibility on defence, which would also help out the offence.

It's never easy to move away from a long time player and starter. There are ratio and SMS issues beyond ability. Woodbey is potentially a free agent next off season. He'll still have a significant role in 2026 but starting at WIL, NOW is not the worst idea.

I have read elsewhere that some are suggesting Smith start NOW instead of K. Wilson.

In both cases there are pros and cons. Most of us don't get to practice to see how well all of the choices perform. K. Wilson is not a bad player but has he been passed by one or both?

We could potentially move K. Wilson onto the reserve to extend his career by a year while he's earning a full pay check.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It's never easy to move away from a long time player and starter. There are ratio and SMS issues beyond ability. Woodbey is potentially a free agent next off season. He'll still have a significant role in 2026 but starting at WIL, NOW is not the worst idea.

I have read elsewhere that some are suggesting Smith start NOW instead of K. Wilson.

In both cases there are pros and cons. Most of us don't get to practice to see how well all of the choices perform. K. Wilson is not a bad player but has he been passed by one or both?

As a GM it should be easy to move on from an older player when there's a conveyor belt of talented younger players coming down the line that need to be accommodated.  The long-term benefit of flagging the higher age as an outlier is an easy business decision, emotional response should be nixed.  There was no great reason to re-sign Kyrie after he hit FA, unless they did it as one last favour to compete for his spot, bringing back JSK made even less sense, have to wonder if O-Shea jhas nightmares of Sam Hurl and is afraid to trust these younger LB's. or if it's Jordan Younger blocking their path.

Along with Woodbey, Shay and Smith will also be FA's next season, time to use them or lose them, at least give them an honest whirl and see if they have the potential to become capable starters or not.  I don't think any of the 3 will command big money, but they may see better opportunity elsewhere if not given a real chance in Wpg.  Losing both Smith and Shay would be a mortal blow to ratio plans for years, it's still early but they have no other Natl. players who look like they could morph into starters on defence like Ford did.

[Pigskin]

I don't think Shay and Smith will be FAs next season. The Bombers have the option to hold on to them here for there 3rd. season.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I don't think Shay and Smith will be FAs next season. The Bombers have the option to hold on to them here for there 3rd. season.

You're right, I thought they were going into their 3rd season.  I think that 3rd year on the ESL is cruel and unusual punishment considering how short careers are, can the player refuse it?

[Pigskin]

You're right, I thought they were going into their 3rd season.  I think that 3rd year on the ESL is cruel and unusual punishment considering how short careers are, can the player refuse it?

I don't think it's long enough. Most of these players don't figure it out until the 3rd, 4th, or 5th year. Should be 2 years at ESL. Then years 3,4, your an RFA. Year 5 your a UFA. Something like the NHL.   

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I don't think it's long enough. Most of these players don't figure it out until the 3rd, 4th, or 5th year. Should be 2 years at ESL. Then years 3,4, your an RFA. Year 5 your a UFA. Something like the NHL.   

The average length of a Canadian Football League (CFL) career is approximately 3.2 to 3.3 years.

AI is never wrong!

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Edited replay courtesy of Waders27.