Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg @ Ottawa, July 19, 2026

[ModAdmin]

Zach Collaros sits for the second game in a row leaving Dru Brown to take it to the Redblacks on Sunday.  He will be motivated!  The latest injury list follows and indicates Brady Oliviera looks like he is ready to go but Nic Demski is questionable...



The Blue Bombers have to treat this game as a must win even if it is not.  This is a winnable game but O, D and ST have to execute and perform well.  Ottawa is 0 and 5 and will use that as motivation for this game.

Ed Tait's 48-Primer is available and follows...

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/07/17/48-hour-primer-brown-to-start-again/

Let's make it a Bomber win!  Go Bombers!

[Jesse]

DRUSKI!!!

The prodigal son returns/takes over.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Dru will wanna prove something.
Like Dimwiddie is a Jack_____.
He will wanna stick it to that man.

Look for the D to continue to improve weekly.

ST solid

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Juicy game from a storyline standpoint, especially for mid-July. We better be prepared for pressure because I think Dinwiddie is going to make sure they're calling it early and often.

[Blue In BC]

Lawson is out and Bouliane is back in with Jenkins.  Lawson is an injury waiting to happen. He can't keep healthy which is unfortunate. The depth chart doesn't show whether he went to 1 game or 6 game IR. Schmekel should be available to come off the 6 game next week. That might be the choice made.

[gobombersgo]

Lawson and Zach were put on the 6 game.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Haha we're a player away for having our entire ratio met on offense.

[gobombersgo]

[BomberFan73]

Man, Lawson has had bad luck with injuries.  Good thing Jenkins is back I guess.
When was the last time we went all American with the defensive front 7?

[M.O.A.B.]

What ??!! We're only starting 7 Canadians!!!     


    

[Blue In BC]

Lawson and Zach were put on the 6 game.

Well that's not good in regard to Collaros and our depth.

[gobombersgo]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers move Zach Collaros, Cameron Lawson to six-game injured list
by John Hodge  July 18, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have placed Zach Collaros and Cameron Lawson on the six-game injured list ahead of Sunday's clash with the Ottawa Redblacks. The team released its official depth chart on Saturday morning.

Collaros suffered a neck injury during the team's 14-13 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Week 5. The injury occurred when strong-side linebacker Reggie Stubblefield came unblocked on a blitz and sacked Collaros for a seven-yard loss.

The six-foot-one, 218-pound passer was placed on the one-game injured list ahead of last week's game against the Toronto Argonauts. Head coach Mike O'Shea indicated earlier this week that Collaros is working to return, but did not provide a timeline for his recovery. The veteran quarterback did not participate in practice this week.

Collaros has completed 71.8 percent of his passes for 985 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions through four starts this season, posting a 2-2 record.

On Friday, the Blue Bombers confirmed that Dru Brown will start in Ottawa in what some pundits have labelled a revenge game.

The 29-year-old completed 80.6 percent of his passes for 339 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 30-21 win over the Argonauts last week. He was acquired via trade from the Redblacks late last month after the team gave Jake Maier the starting job, leading Brown to request his release.

The native of Palo Alto, Calif. has taken the high road when speaking about his former team but Ottawa head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie believes he's got an axe to grind.

Lawson did not practice this week and was listed as doubtful for Sunday due to a hip injury. The six-foot-three, 290-pound defender started the team's first five games at nose tackle, making five defensive tackles.

The native of Caledon, Ont. will be replaced in the starting lineup by Michael Fletcher, a CFL rookie out of Appalachian State who has played four games in a depth role and made two tackles.

Winnipeg has also activated Kydran Jenkins from the practice roster and he will fill a depth role at defensive end behind David Reese.

The six-foot-one, 275-pound defender started the team's first three games opposite Willie Jefferson, recording three defensive tackles. The 24-year-old made his CFL debut late last season, recording one sack during the only game in which he played.

The Blue Bombers have also swapped linebackers, activating Charles-Elliot Bouliane from the practice roster and moving Dylan Hazen to the practice roster.

Bouliane was a fourth-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft out of the Université de Montréal and has made one special teams tackle over three regular-season games as a rookie. Hazen made his CFL debut last week but did not register any statistics against Toronto.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-2) will visit the Ottawa Redblacks (0-5) on Sunday, July 19 with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EDT. The Blue Bombers are coming off a 30-21 win over the Toronto Argonauts, while the Redblacks lost 40-17 against the Edmonton Elks.

The weather forecast in Ottawa calls for a high of 27 degrees and a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on 680 CJOB in Winnipeg or TSN 1200 in Ottawa.

https://3downnation.com/2026/07/18/winnipeg-blue-bombers-move-zach-collaros-cameron-lawson-to-six-game-injured-list/

[gobombersgo]

Ottawa Redblacks shuffle secondary against Winnipeg Blue Bombers
by 3Down Staff  July 18, 2026

The Ottawa Redblacks have made several changes to their secondary ahead of Sunday's game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The team released its official depth chart on Saturday morning.

Shakur Brown will start at boundary cornerback after spending the past two weeks on the practice roster. The 27-year-old product of Michigan State made three starts at field-side cornerback earlier this year, recording 11 defensive tackles.

Dionté Ruffin, who signed with the team this week, will start at boundary halfback. The four-year CFL veteran played eight regular-season games with the Montreal Alouettes last season, making five starts and recording 11 defensive tackles. He attended training camp with the B.C. Lions but was released prior to the start of the regular-season.

Ruffin has replaced Jeremy Lucien, who has been placed on the six-game injured list due to a shoulder injury. Bennett Williams started Ottawa's first four games at boundary halfback but he was recently ruled out for the season due to a torn Achilles.

Amari Henderson is listed as Ottawa's starter at field-side halfback, though he's considered a game-time decision due to a calf injury.

Demerio Houston, who has made 14 defensive tackles and one special teams tackle through five starts this year, has moved from boundary cornerback to field-side cornerback. Adrian Frye, who started at field-side cornerback last week, has been moved to the six-game injured list due to a hand injury.

As indicated by head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie earlier this week, Aaron Casey will start at middle linebacker in place of Nyles Morgan. Morgan, who suffered a broken hand last week, has been moved to the six-game injured list.

Casey signed with the Redblacks after he was released by the Toronto Argonauts near the end of training camp. The six-foot-two, 235-pound native of Douglasville, Ga. played 15 regular-season games with the Argonauts in 2025, making 36 total tackles, six sacks, and one forced fumble.

Luiji Vilain will make his first career CFL start at defensive end in place of Habakkuk Baldonado, who was fined twice following the team's loss in Edmonton. The defender signed with his hometown team in April following a four-year run in the NFL. The 28-year-old has recorded two defensive tackles and one special teams tackle through his first five CFL season games.

Keelan White has returned to the starting lineup after missing Ottawa's last two games with an ankle injury. The former first-round CFL draft pick made 10 catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns over the team's first three games.

The Redblacks removed two other players from the active roster, placing receiver Binjimen Victor on the practice roster and defensive lineman Cleyon Laing on the six-game injured list (knee). Victor started last week but didn't make any catches, while Laing has recorded two tackles and one sack so far this year.

Ottawa has also promoted defensive lineman Blessman Ta'ala and linebacker K.J. Cloyd from the practice roster. Ta'ala, a former first overall pick in the CFL Global Draft, has made 30 defensive tackles, six sacks, and one forced fumble over 50 career regular-season CFL games. This will be Cloyd's first career CFL game.

The Ottawa Redblacks (0-5) will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-2) on Sunday, July 19 with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EDT. The Blue Bombers are coming off a 30-21 win over the Toronto Argonauts, while the Redblacks lost 40-17 against the Edmonton Elks

The weather forecast in Ottawa calls for a high of 27 degrees and a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on 680 CJOB in Winnipeg or TSN 1200 in Ottawa.

https://3downnation.com/2026/07/18/ottawa-redblacks-shuffle-secondary-against-winnipeg-blue-bombers/[/b][/b]

[Jesse]

That is a lot of changes to the Ottawa line  up.

[gobombersgo]

That is a lot of changes to the Ottawa line  up.

Yeah, I think I'll be disappointed if Dru doesnt put up a 50 burger on his former team. lol