The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed American defensive back Jordan Taylor, the team announced on Saturday.
The five-foot-ten, 174-pound defender signed with the team in February but was released shortly after rookie camp. He's been added to the practice roster.
The 24-year-old played four collegiate seasons at Tusculum University, an NCAA Division II program located in Tennessee. The same school produced DeAundre Alford, who was named All-CFL with the Blue Bombers in 2021 before he departed for the NFL.
The native of Miami, Fla. played 33 games with the Pioneers and recorded 91 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, six interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery. He transferred to James Madison University in 2024 where he made 25 total tackles and five pass breakups over 13 games.
Taylor signed with the Las Vegas Raiders after going unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft but didn't see any regular-season action with the team.
https://3downnation.com/2026/08/29/winnipeg-blue-bombers-add-jordan-taylor-to-practice-roster/
Blue Bombers Transactions - August 29, 2026
WINNIPEG, MB., August 29, 2026 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the following transactions.
Added to practice roster:
American defensive back Jordan Taylor (5-10, 175, James Madison)
He has experience with our TC playbook etc etc. It's as good an addition we could make at the moment.
Pro Day Test Results40-Yard Dash: 4.35 seconds Taylor's blazing 4.35-second 40-yard dash highlighted his elite speed. He was an accomplished track-and-field sprinter during his prior years at Tusculum University, competing in the 100 meters and 4x100 relay
Short, though. However, we like short DBs.
I think this means Nichols is done, whatever the reason.
I remember the name something comes to mind about praise in camp or perhaps hype from his past experience. Anyone recall anything, this is foggy at best.
Quote from: Tecno on August 30, 2026, 04:59:41 AMShort, though. However, we like short DBs.
I think this means Nichols is done, whatever the reason.
Probably at this point, but it's also a numbers game, if a player is coming off the PR, there's an opening for another guy.
Right now we have no American DBs on our practice roster so it's a good time to bring Taylor back.
Just for comparisons sake Taylor is an inch taller than Deatrick.
Quote from: Jesse on August 30, 2026, 03:46:01 PMProbably at this point, but it's also a numbers game, if a player is coming off the PR, there's an opening for another guy.
Yes but it also suggests that Nichols won't be available soon and that Texada says on the AR for an extended time.
Unless Nichols is taken off the 6 game IR sooner, he can't practice until the 4th week. That's game 14. 6 weeks on the IR means game 16 and that's not when you want to make changes if it can be avoided.
Quote from: Blue In BC on August 30, 2026, 07:29:46 PMYes but it also suggests that Nichols won't be available soon and that Texada says on the AR for an extended time.
Unless Nichols is taken off the 6 game IR sooner, he can't practice until the 4th week. That's game 14. 6 weeks on the IR means game 16 and that's not when you want to make changes if it can be avoided.
Possibility Nichols has been dealing with a long-term injury for more than a year and has decided to have surgery, ending his season. Even so not likely to extend his career beyond a year or two and he could end up elsewhere if the Bombers discover better while he is out. Was it Bonds or Bridges the Bombers are still waiting on to recover from injury?
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on August 30, 2026, 09:26:50 PMPossibility Nichols has been dealing with a long-term injury for more than a year and has decided to have surgery, ending his season. Even so not likely to extend his career beyond a year or two and he could end up elsewhere if the Bombers discover better while he is out. Was it Bonds or Bridges the Bombers are still waiting on to recover from injury?
Bonds and he'd probably be welcomed back if he's recovered. He was rounding into form. Bridges went to the Lions but was released early.
The injury to Nichols was not clear but yes it may be one that required surgery. IDK. His contract was $175K with $60 in advance. That leaves $11OK or about $50K remaining if he stays on 6 game IR that would be sheltered.
Ya bonds. I'm high on bonds. But major was instantly better. Vaval might be better too, but he's much more raw.
The question for me is bonds better than Texada. Bonds has more starts and field time, but has now been out of the loop for a year. As such he's a long shot to return, unless we lose another db.
Quote from: Tecno on August 31, 2026, 06:10:51 AMYa bonds. I'm high on bonds. But major was instantly better. Vaval might be better too, but he's much more raw.
The question for me is bonds better than Texada. Bonds has more starts and field time, but has now been out of the loop for a year. As such he's a long shot to return, unless we lose another db.
Bonds was becoming a solid player. Too early to know about Texada but Bonds has more experience.
I finished the whole game, and though Texada got a lot of late reps, he was usually on the field with vaval and major!! I think a lot of the plays people are attributing to Texada was really vaval.
Texada's big moment was that one on one with Philpot. But vaval also had spectacular one on a corner route.
Quote from: Tecno on August 31, 2026, 06:10:51 AMYa bonds. I'm high on bonds. But major was instantly better. Vaval might be better too, but he's much more raw.
The question for me is bonds better than Texada. Bonds has more starts and field time, but has now been out of the loop for a year. As such he's a long shot to return, unless we lose another db.
The question is Williams better than Nichols and is Texada about to fill the vacated CB spot returning Vaval again to backup? It looks like Williams will eventually move to HCB and it may come down to Bond and Texada fighting for the CB jobs against Moxie, but that's unlikely to happen until next season.
Major did screw up 2 and a bit times as HB in this game. Like badly. One cost us a TD (we were going to give it up anyhow, but could have made them use up more clock to get it). But he made 3 very good plays to make up for it.
But that's not as good a ratio as he usually gets at CB.
But that's ok, he's a noob at HB, so there will be teething pains as he gets burned by the more complicated crisscross and rub routes. Teams might be scheming against him once again though, once they watch that film.
Is there any other choice at HB? Doesn't look like we have anyone groomed for it? Vaval and Texada are both always at CB, right? If Nichols is legit on the 6G then we have no other choice, even if Major keeps getting burned. And we're totally screwed if he or Holm gets injured.
Remember, the scheme is nearly impossible to learn, so no new arrival can just sub in. Texada can do it only because he's been here since camp.
Quote from: Tecno on September 01, 2026, 05:43:13 AMMajor did screw up 2 and a bit times as HB in this game. Like badly. One cost us a TD (we were going to give it up anyhow, but could have made them use up more clock to get it). But he made 3 very good plays to make up for it.
But that's not as good a ratio as he usually gets at CB.
But that's ok, he's a noob at HB, so there will be teething pains as he gets burned by the more complicated crisscross and rub routes. Teams might be scheming against him once again though, once they watch that film.
Is there any other choice at HB? Doesn't look like we have anyone groomed for it? Vaval and Texada are both always at CB, right? If Nichols is legit on the 6G then we have no other choice, even if Major keeps getting burned. And we're totally screwed if he or Holm gets injured.
Remember, the scheme is nearly impossible to learn, so no new arrival can just sub in. Texada can do it only because he's been here since camp.
I agree with you generally but caution that it's really hard to assign blame to one DB from a TV replay without knowing the coverage call. Pro defenses aren't necessarily just assigning a defender to a specific receiver and responsibilities can be based on #1/#2/#3 receiver alignment, route combinations, motion and post-snap checks. A db may be passing a receiver off, matching a different route or expecting help from osmewhere. So the guy closest to the open receiver when the ball arrives isn't necessarily the guy who busted the coverage.
I saw a facebook post saying Houston had signed here, guessing it was a bot reposting the last time... have to say, I cringed at that.
We seem to have an endless supply of good DB's, Younger gets them going pretty quick.
Quote from: Sir Blue and Gold on September 01, 2026, 03:32:24 PMI agree with you generally but caution that it's really hard to assign blame to one DB from a TV replay without knowing the coverage call. Pro defenses aren't necessarily just assigning a defender to a specific receiver and responsibilities can be based on #1/#2/#3 receiver alignment, route combinations, motion and post-snap checks. A db may be passing a receiver off, matching a different route or expecting help from osmewhere. So the guy closest to the open receiver when the ball arrives isn't necessarily the guy who busted the coverage.
I generally agree. That's why I watch each d bust many times, in all provided angles, to study and guess the routes and responsibilities. I'm pretty sure I've gotten at least ok at it.
You get hints like hand off signals, and post play finger pointing and shrugging and that guilty look. Plus you can generally start to figure out what younger is trying to do.
Oh ya, and looking for who is being rubbed on explosions.
It is somewhat determinable, even without knowing the book and call.
Quote from: Tecno on September 01, 2026, 05:43:13 AMMajor did screw up 2 and a bit times as HB in this game. Like badly. One cost us a TD (we were going to give it up anyhow, but could have made them use up more clock to get it). But he made 3 very good plays to make up for it.
But that's not as good a ratio as he usually gets at CB.
But that's ok, he's a noob at HB, so there will be teething pains as he gets burned by the more complicated crisscross and rub routes. Teams might be scheming against him once again though, once they watch that film.
Is there any other choice at HB? Doesn't look like we have anyone groomed for it? Vaval and Texada are both always at CB, right? If Nichols is legit on the 6G then we have no other choice, even if Major keeps getting burned. And we're totally screwed if he or Holm gets injured.
Remember, the scheme is nearly impossible to learn, so no new arrival can just sub in. Texada can do it only because he's been here since camp.
Moxey Früvous is probably the only other candidate for HB.
Goodbye Nichols... Thanks for all you have done over the years.
Quote from: BLUEBOMBER on September 05, 2026, 07:15:03 AMGoodbye Nichols... Thanks for all you have done over the years.
He's starting this week.
Quote from: Blue In BC on September 05, 2026, 02:50:16 PMHe's starting this week.
You say goodbye I say hello
Hello
Hello
I don't know why you say, "Goodbye", I say, "Hello"
Such a wild ride, I didn't see him coming back so soon, would love the know the back story here