Official Game Day Thread - Ottawa @ Winnipeg, August 14, 2026

[ModAdmin]

And, just to keep us guessing a bit longer, Zach Collaros is listed today as "questionable" for Friday's game against Ottawa.  Further guessing would suggest he likely starts but we wait patiently!

The latest Injury Report follows:



This is probably the most winnable game with Ottawa playing us in Winnipeg so clearly it means the Bombers have to come out of the gate with guns blazing and a full 3 phase effort to win.

Ed Tait sets the scene with his 48-Hour Primer...

48-Hour Primer

A win keeps us all alone in 3rd place.  It's a game where we definitely need to show we should be a playoff contender.  Another big crowd will be in the stands, so we need this game badly.

Be there and Let's Go Bombers!

[Jesse]

Obviously Zach is starting.

[gobombersgo]

[gobombersgo]

Ed Tait @EdTaitWFC

The @Wpg_BlueBombers get QB Zach Collaros, RT Jarell Broxton and DT Cam Lawson back, list RB Brady Oliveira as a Game Time Decision. QB Taylor Elgersma and OL Micah Vanterpool move to reserve roster and DB Michael Griffin II is on six-game injured list.

[RebusRankin]

What is the point of adding Hazen instead of a DB, DL or WR?

[Blue In BC]

What is the point of adding Hazen instead of a DB, DL or WR?

Well we added Lawson, cut Jackson and put Griffin on the 6 game IR. So adding a LB makes sense if we're choosing to not have 3 import receivers. Clearly that last part was decided in TC whether we agree or not.

All our DI's are on defence. Even Vaval is technically a back up DB.

[RebusRankin]

Well we added Lawson, cut Jackson and put Griffin on the 6 game IR. So adding a LB makes sense if we're choosing to not have 3 import receivers. Clearly that last part was decided in TC whether we agree or not.

All our DI's are on defence. Even Vaval is technically a back up DB.

Adding another lb who is only going to play teams makes no sense and not adding say another WR when Brady is a GTD is foolish given how weak our offense has been even with him.

Oh well, no use complaining, nothing we can do.

[Tecno]

Ya, but mafia has been pretty methodical about giving the lesser guys a shot, or two, on the AR when the situation allowed.

I see no reason that couldn't have been on O just this once.

[Tecno]

I think it'll actually turn out well if Brady is a no go. For once we'll be the team giving the opponent the unusual look. And I think Peterson's speed might be more useful against OTT than Brady's power.

Maybe Peterson can run for 190y like he's Horvath!!

[Pigskin]

About what we expected. I know MOS loves his LBs, but we don't need 9 of them. Little surprised that Cobb is ahead of Clercius.  I would also be okay with BO20 sitting this one out if he's not 100%.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I think it'll actually turn out well if Brady is a no go. For once we'll be the team giving the opponent the unusual look. And I think Peterson's speed might be more useful against OTT than Brady's power.

Maybe Peterson can run for 190y like he's Horvath!!

I'd really like to see a non Brady game as a comparison.

[gobombersgo]

Official: Zach Collaros to start for Winnipeg Blue Bombers against Ottawa
by John Hodge  August 13, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have officially named Zach Collaros as their starting quarterback for Friday's game against the Ottawa Redblacks. The team issued its official depth chart on Thursday.

The soon-to-be 38-year-old missed Winnipeg's last four games with a neck injury. Collaros returned to practice this week, where he attributed the absence to a combination of physical limitation and an abundance of caution. He also described the injury as "whiplash."

The six-foot-one, 218-pound passer 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.

Dru Brown has been listed as the backup behind Collaros, while Bryce Perkins remains in the third-string role as Winnipeg's short-yardage quarterback. Canadian backup Taylor Elgersma, who has played twice this season in a relief role, has been placed on the reserve roster.

Star running back Brady Oliveira has been listed as a game-time decision due to an ankle injury.

According to the team's official injury report, the Winnipeg native was a limited participant on Monday and a non-participant on Wednesday. The 28-year-old has rushed for 658 yards, caught 20 passes for 135 yards, and scored four touchdowns this season.

If Oliveira were unable to play, it's likely that Michael Chris-Ike would start in his place with Matthew Peterson being elevated from the practice roster to serve as his backup.

Jarell Broxton has returned from the knee injury that kept him out of the team's loss to the B.C. Lions two weeks ago. He will start at right tackle. Micah Vanterpool, who started in Broxton's place against the Lions, has been moved to the reserve roster alongside Elgersma.

Cameron Lawson has returned from a hip injury to start at nose tackle. The six-foot-three, 290-pound defender made five defensive tackles over Winnipeg's first five games. Over 68 career regular-season CFL games with the Montreal Alouettes and Blue Bombers, he has made 46 defensive tackles, seven sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble.

Michael Griffin II has been placed on the six-game injured list due to an ankle injury. The veteran defensive back has been Winnipeg's full-time starter at strong-side linebacker this season, recording 35 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, and one forced fumble.

The 28-year-old has played 49 career regular-season CFL games with the Calgary Stampeders and Blue Bombers, tallying 135 defensive tackles, 31 special teams tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, and one touchdown.

Jaylen Smith will start in place of Griffin II, giving the Blue Bombers nine Canadian starters. The 24-year-old native of Hamilton, Ont. was a second-round pick in the 2025 CFL Draft and has since recorded 17 defensive tackles and 25 special teams tackles.

Brody Clark, the team's fifth-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, has been activated from the six-game injured list to dress in a depth role at linebacker. The same is true for Dylan Hazen, a rookie out of Wake Forest University, who has been promoted from the practice roster.

Lane Novak, who dressed for the club's last two games after returning from a knee injury, has been placed on the practice roster. Winnipeg also announced two releases on Wednesday, cutting Canadian defensive lineman Collin Kornelson and American defensive back Matthew Jackson.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-4) will host the Ottawa Redblacks (0-8) at Princess Auto Stadium on Friday, August 14 with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EDT. The Redblacks suffered a 42-20 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week, while the Blue Bombers were on bye.

The weather forecast in Winnipeg calls for 23 degrees with a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on TSN 1200 in Ottawa or 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.

https://3downnation.com/2026/08/13/official-zach-collaros-to-start-for-winnipeg-blue-bombers-against-ottawa/

[gobombersgo]

Ottawa Redblacks make seven changes to starting lineup against Winnipeg
by 3Down Staff  August 13, 2026

The Ottawa Redblacks have made seven changes to their starting lineup for Friday night's game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The team released its depth chart on Thursday morning.

Offensive lineman Drew Desjarlais, defensive end Habakkuk Baldondo, and middle linebacker Nyles Morgan will all be back in the lineup after recovering from injury.

Desjarlais missed one game due to a foot injury. The six-foot-three, 315-pound blocker from Belle River, Ont. has been a mainstay at guard with the Redblacks since 2023 when he joined the team as a free agent. He previously won two Grey Cups with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Baldonado recorded five defensive tackles and one sack over five starts to begin the year but was placed on the six-game injured list in mid-July. The 26-year-old helped the Saskatchewan Roughriders win the Grey Cup last year and has made 36 defensive tackles, four special teams tackles, seven sacks, and one forced fumble over 41 career regular-season CFL games.

Morgan suffered a broken hand against the Edmonton Elks last month. At the time, he ranked first league-wide in defensive tackles with 38. The 29-year-old ended up missing only three regular-season games due to the injury.

The six-foot, 230-pound defender has tallied 415 defensive tackles, nine special teams tackles, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, and one interception over 67 career regular-season CFL games as a member of the Elks and Redblacks.

Zachary Barlev will make his first career CFL start at right tackle in place of the injured Julian Pearl. The 23-year-old finished his collegiate career at Old Dominion in 2025, where he was named first-team All-Sun Belt.

Zack Pelehos, who previously started at right tackle this season, remains on the six-game injured list. Barlev will be the fourth different player to start at right tackle for the Redblacks this season.

Dennis Briggs Jr. will start at defensive tackle in place of Michael Wakefield, who was placed on the six-game injured list (foot).

Briggs Jr. finished his collegiate career at the University of Illinois in 2024, where he recorded 39 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He spent the first 10 weeks of this season on Ottawa's practice roster.

Marcus Barnes and King Ambers have been listed as starters in the secondary, where veterans Demerio Houston and Amari Henderson were released this past week.

Barnes initially made the practice roster after training camp but has dressed for Ottawa's last six games in a depth role, recording six defensive tackles and eight special teams tackles. This will be his first career CFL start, as he lines up at boundary halfback.

Ambers was an eighth-round pick in the 2025 CFL Draft and played nine regular-season games as a rookie, making seven defensive tackles and one interception. He began the 2026 season on the six-game injured list, though he dressed in a depth for the Redblacks last two games, making one special teams tackle. This will be his first start of this year.

Shadwel Nkuba II, who made his first career start last week, has been moved from field-side cornerback to boundary cornerback. Dionté Ruffin, who started at boundary halfback the past three games, has been moved to field-side halfback.

Veteran kicker Brett Lauther has returned to the lineup at kicker after sitting out two games with a quad injury. The native of Truro, N.S. remains a perfect 20-for-20 on field goals this season. Lewis Ward, who filled in for Lauther the past two weeks, has been moved to the practice roster.

Lucus Spencer, who signed with the team earlier this week, will dress at long snapper. Peter Adjey, the team's veteran long snapper, has been placed on the six-game injured list due to an elbow injury he suffered last week.

Other changes for this week include Canadian offensive lineman Alassane Diouf, defensive lineman Jessie Evans, linebacker KJ Cloyd, and defensive back Christian Matthew being added to the active roster in depth roles.

Fullback Emeric Boutin (ankle), defensive lineman Bryce Carter (Achilles), linebackers Aaron Casey (groin) and Joshua Connors (practice roster) have each come off the active roster.

Longtime B.C. Lions defensive lineman Sione Teuhema, who signed with the Redblacks earlier this week, will not dress on Friday. He has been placed on the practice roster.

The Ottawa Redblacks (0-8) will visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-4) at Princess Auto Stadium on Friday, August 14 with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EDT. The Redblacks suffered a 42-20 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week, while the Blue Bombers were on bye.

The weather forecast in Winnipeg calls for 23 degrees with a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on TSN 1200 in Ottawa or 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.

https://3downnation.com/2026/08/13/ottawa-redblacks-make-seven-changes-to-starting-lineup-against-winnipeg/

[gobombersgo]

Ed Tait   @EdTaitWFC

FWIW - Oliveira taking reps this morning at walk-through

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I think it'll actually turn out well if Brady is a no go. For once we'll be the team giving the opponent the unusual look. And I think Peterson's speed might be more useful against OTT than Brady's power.

Maybe Peterson can run for 190y like he's Horvath!!

Peterson is still sitting on the PR, if Brady couldn't go (I doubt) they would have moved him up, otherwise it's all on MCI.