Official Game Day Thread - Calgary @ Winnipeg, October 10, 2026

[ModAdmin]

Safe to say a win against Calgary is a fairly necessary result on Saturday to stay in the playoff race.The good news is Zach Collaros will play and he sounds ready for arguably the most important game, so far, this year/

According to Mike O'Shea, "He's (Collaros) been very, very good in this league for a long time so that of experience... nothing is too big for him," said head coach Mike O'Shea. "I'm not comparing to anyone else; we just know what he does. He's just got that sense that when guys are in the huddle with him, he gives them confidence."

A precursor to this game is in Ed Tait's 48-Hour Primer https://bluebombers.com/article/48-hour-primer-blue-bombers-vs-stampeders

Only Dylan Hazen and Jonathan Moxey are listed as "Out" for this game.

Tailgate begins at 4 pm with $6.00 beers, $3.50 hot dogs and 1,000 pieces of free pumpkin pie!

Calgary is in a similar win-now situation as the Bombers so this game will need the Winnipeg faithful to get to the stadium and make life miserable for the Stamps.

Weather calls for partly sunny, partly cloudy with a high temperature of 25.  A win will put us in serious contention for the playoffs.  Let's Go Bombers!

[Mick]

Depth Chart is up.

https://assets.ctfassets.net/yfsr4emgn242/7t4kKvASTq0BeHcubNzkLF/6e073f7b09682eaac5384bfc3e6aa221/Calgary_at_Winnipeg_Oct_10.pdf

[gobombersgo]

Derek Taylor🏈  @DTonOB

Zach Collaros returns for the biggest regular season game in years. He missed the last two with a head injury.

Jaylen Smith is back at DB.

Tui Eli gets the start at center, where Tyler Elsbury had started all but 1 game this season. 

And they lose Michael Ayers to injury

[gobombersgo]

[gobombersgo]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers swap three starters for critical game against Stampeders
by John Hodge  October 9, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have made three changes to their starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Calgary Stampeders. The team issued its official depth chart on Friday.

Zach Collaros has officially been named the starting quarterback, ending his two-game absence due to a head injury. The 38-year-old returned to practice this week, and reassured concerned fans and critics that he has made the decision to continue playing after careful consideration.

The veteran passer has gone 5-4 as a starter this season, completing 70.6 percent of his passes for 2,204 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He has missed six regular-season games due to injury this year.

Dru Brown has been listed as the backup quarterback behind Collaros, while Bryce Perkins will fill the third-string role. Taylor Elgersma has been moved to the reserve roster.

Tui Eli will start at centre in place of Tyler Elsbury, who has been moved to a depth role. In last week's one-sided loss to the Montreal Alouettes, Elsbury took a holding penalty, delivered a bad snap, and allowed a sack.

Eli made one start at centre earlier this season, when Elsbury was shifted to right guard in place of Patrick Neufeld. The 30-year-old blocker has played 85 career regular-season CFL games with the Blue Bombers at centre and guard since being taken in the fourth round of the 2019 CFL Draft out of the University of Hawaii.

Jaylen Smith will start at strong-side linebacker after returning from a hip injury that kept him out of last week's game. The Hamilton native has recorded 43 total tackles this season. This will be his seventh start of the year.

In a corresponding move, Michael Griffin II has been moved to a depth role behind Smith. The veteran started in his place last week.

Winnipeg has also promoted Kydran Jenkins to the active roster in a depth role at defensive end. The 24-year-old started the first three games of the regular-season, and tallied four defensive tackles. He was moved to the practice roster in July.

Michael Ayers has been moved to the one-game injured list (calf), while Nuer Gatkuoth has been placed on the reserve roster.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-8) will host the Calgary Stampeders (8-8) on Saturday, October 10 with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EDT. The Stampeders are coming off a 37-31 upset win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, while Winnipeg got crushed by the Montreal Alouettes.

The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on 770 CHQR in Calgary or 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.

https://3downnation.com/2026/10/09/winnipeg-blue-bombers-swap-three-starters-for-critical-game-against-stampeders/

[Blue In BC]

Derek Taylor🏈  @DTonOB

Zach Collaros returns for the biggest regular season game in years. He missed the last two with a head injury.

Jaylen Smith is back at DB.

Tui Eli gets the start at center, where Tyler Elsbury had started all but 1 game this season. 

And they lose Michael Ayers to injury

I wasn't expecting a change at center and wonder if this is somewhat injury related for Elsbury and not being 100%?  Although it was mentioned he didn't have a great game last time out.

Either way we'll have more Canadians starting this week with Smith returning.

Not good that we lose Ayers on ST's. How do they adjust for that? No new ST player added this week.

Another week of several players not being able to practice but playing. Hopefully the nicks they are dealing with doesn't limit their performances too much.

[Pigskin]

Well a lot of Bomber fans getting there wish. Not wasting a DI spot on teams with Ayers out. 

[Blueforlife]

time for Jenkins to shine
Smith will be good
Eli will be steady but not great
I would like to see more Texada this week
I would like to see less Kelly
Ayers will be missed on teams
Best DL we have had for a long time

I wish the weather was crap as Brady cooks better in a messy outdoor kitchen LOL

GETTING EXCITED

[gobombersgo]

markonfootball  @Markonfootball

INSTA-ANALYSIS:  Stampeders offensive line adds two different starters from last week.  Zack Williams and Brad Ashmore are on the injured list while Preston Nichols and Bakyne Coly make the roster.  Team is starting three imports on the offensive line.

ROSTER NOTES, CALGARY STAMPEDERS AT WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS, OCTOBER 10, 2026 (1 of 2)

Add to roster:

DB Adrian Greene
DB  Jake Taylor
LB Terrance Ganyi
OL Preston NIchols
OL Bakyne Coly
DE Dan Grzesiak

ROSTER NOTES (2 OF 2):

Remove from roster:

To Practice roster:  DB Lance Boykin

To 1-game; OL Zack Williams, OL Brad Ashmore, LB Eric Rascoe, Receiver Reggie Begelton

To reserve:  DL Daniel Joseph

[gobombersgo]

[Blue In BC]

With changes on the Stamps OL losing both OT's can we get to VAJ this week? Do that and he'll make mistakes. Their OT's all are somewhat inexperienced.

[Mick]

With changes on the Stamps OL losing both OT's can we get to VAJ this week? Do that and he'll make mistakes.

This, plus the noise level at a sold out Princess Auto Stadium. Huge. VA is due for a rough game.

[BBRT]

This, plus the noise level at a sold out Princess Auto Stadium. Huge. VA is due for a rough game.

One can hope he is due but he has been very consistent lately. IMHO this is an all or nothing for the Bombers - Win and we have an opportunity to make it to the playoffs - lose and its time to look at 2027!

[Blueforlife]

We haven't been loud for weeks.  Hopefully that changes but likely an average crowd and average volume.  Hope I'm wrong. So many not showing up or taking the freebees.

[dd]

Adams has been consistently inconsistent in his career, so ya, he's due for a stinker, and he doesn't handle the pressure well at all. Season is on the line, he's in a noisy stadium with the fans cheering against him, he'll be melting down crying on his bench before half time!!