Winnipeg Blue Bombers add two to roster

[ModAdmin]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers add two to roster

WINNIPEG, MB., April 30, 2025 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has signed American offensive lineman Christophe Atkinson and American defensive end Ryan Johnson.

Atkinson (6-4, 308, Ohio; born: February 21, 2001, in Leesburg, VA.) joins the Bombers after a six-year collegiate career at Ohio University (2019-2024) and recently attending Ohio's Pro Day in late March.

He would appear in 48 games from 2021 to 2024, starting in 30 of them. In 2023 and 2024, Atkison would start every game for the Bobcats, helping the team score 37 and 53 touchdowns, respectively. He is a four-time Academic All-MAC honouree (2021-2024), and two-time Academic All-District Team member (2022-2023).

Johnson (6-3, 255, Southern Mississippi; born: January 27, 2001, in Starkville, MS.) signs with the Blue Bombers after a six-year collegiate career in both Junior College (2019-2020) and FBS (2021-2024).

For 2024, Johnson transferred to Southern Mississippi and posted 23 tackles (12 solo, 11 assists), three sacks and four tackles-for-loss (28 yards) in 12 games (6 starts).

Before Southern Mississippi, Johnson would play three seasons (2021-2023) at Akron University, recording 44 tackles (22 solo, 22 assists), two sacks, 4.5 tackles-for-loss (14 yards) and one knockdown and in 26 appearances (10 starts).

[Blue In BC]

Lots of import OL coming to TC. I think we're up to about 6 pure CFL rookies + 2 - 4 that were on our PR last year. Even if we get a TC injury or 2 we're going to have options.

I'm not opposed to Lofton but OTOH he will be tested once again.

[TecnoGenius]

I'm not opposed to Lofton but OTOH he will be tested once again.

When's the last time an IMP rookie OL became a starter in year 1 on our team?  I think Lofton is safe.  The risk to Lofton is from the year 2-3 guys, however, the ones we have aren't "it" I'm pretty sure.

Best we can do is see if we can spot the next Big Stan that can be dev'd over the next 2-3 seasons.

Or we'll just FA the position when the time comes.  It worked last time!

[Blue In BC]

When's the last time an IMP rookie OL became a starter in year 1 on our team?  I think Lofton is safe.  The risk to Lofton is from the year 2-3 guys, however, the ones we have aren't "it" I'm pretty sure.

Best we can do is see if we can spot the next Big Stan that can be dev'd over the next 2-3 seasons.

Or we'll just FA the position when the time comes.  It worked last time!

It's been a long time since the Bombers started a rookie import OL. OTOH Lofton only started 7 games in 3 years before joining Winnipeg.

We have 2 import OL that were with the team all of last year. Randolph was on the AR for 6 games. I don't know he's going to get a serious look at OT.  Vanterpool and a couple of others were on the PR for at least part of 2025.

Other teams have started rookie OT's in year 1.

I'm not knocking Lofton but I do wonder whether he's peaked or under increased scrutiny.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

It's been a long time since the Bombers started a rookie import OL. OTOH Lofton only started 7 games in 3 years before joining Winnipeg.

We have 2 import OL that were with the team all of last year. Randolph was on the AR for 6 games. I don't know he's going to get a serious look at OT.  Vanterpool and a couple of others were on the PR for at least part of 2025.

Other teams have started rookie OT's in year 1.

I'm not knocking Lofton but I do wonder whether he's peaked or under increased scrutiny.

Not sure why Lofton gets singled out here. The offensive line as a whole was by most measures middle of the league last year (they got lots of benefits of the doubt from reputation, but the stats and PFF are pretty clear). I'd say everyone is now going to face more competition. It's unrealistic to think that any of the returning starters, given age, will be significantly better this year than last either.

Looking at it objectively we're heading in camp knowing our penciled in starters are good for about league average (maybe slightly above 3-4 top end).

That's why you're seeing the number of offensive lineman signed and in camp and I won't be surprised at all to see change there week 1, and certainly more by Labour Day.

[Blue In BC]

Not sure why Lofton gets singled out here. The offensive line as a whole was by most measures middle of the league last year (they got lots of benefits of the doubt from reputation, but the stats and PFF are pretty clear). I'd say everyone is now going to face more competition. It's unrealistic to think that any of the returning starters, given age, will be significantly better this year than last either.

Looking at it objectively we're heading in camp knowing our penciled in starters are good for about league average (maybe slightly above 3-4 top end).

That's why you're seeing the number of offensive lineman signed and in camp and I won't be surprised at all to see change there week 1, and certainly more by Labour Day.

You just answered your own question. Average and probably no longer has upside. Lofton is singled out because we have more import challengers than we have Canadian choices.

At the moment I think we have 8 or 9 imports and only 4 Canadian OL on the roster.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

You just answered your own question. Average and probably no longer has upside. Lofton is singled out because we have more import challengers than we have Canadian choices.

At the moment I think we have 8 or 9 imports and only 4 Canadian OL on the roster.

And my answer to that is don't automatically assume we're going 3 Canadians and 2 Americans along the line - especially with, like you say, only 4 OL Canadians on the entire pre-TC roster. And if it starts that way in week one it's really unlikely it finishes that way.

Look at the results from last year and look at the personnel decisions/roster make-up now. The only lock on the offensive line is Stanley Bryant. Everyone else is fighting for a job and one of those Canadian spots could very conceivably end up American.

It would be very odd to have four total Canadian OL on the roster if you plan to start three there all year, wouldn't you say?

[Blue In BC]

And my answer to that is don't automatically assume we're going 3 Canadians and 2 Americans along the line - especially with, like you say, only 4 OL Canadians on the entire pre-TC roster. And if it starts that way in week one it's really unlikely it finishes that way.

Look at the results from last year and look at the personnel decisions/roster make-up now. The only lock on the offensive line is Stanley Bryant. Everyone else is fighting for a job and one of those Canadian spots could very conceivably end up American.

It would be very odd to have four total Canadian OL on the roster if you plan to start three there all year, wouldn't you say?

I'm waiting to see if we bring back one or both of the OL drafted in 2024. We did draft an OL this year, but at best these would be players fighting to fill a 6th or 7th OL on the AR.

That would be true whether we start 2 or 3 Canadian OL.

The concern increased with the loss of 2 starting Canadians already. That would give us only 7 starting Canadians compared to 9 in 2024.

While that's workable with our depth, it's not optimum IMO. Further to that it puts our Canadian OL depth suspect now and going forward.

It does seem that Walters / O'Shea seemed to suggest 3 import OL is quite probable.

Elks just released Lavoie. Maybe he's worth a look in TC.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'm waiting to see if we bring back one or both of the OL drafted in 2024. We did draft an OL this year, but at best these would be players fighting to fill a 6th or 7th OL on the AR.

That would be true whether we start 2 or 3 Canadian OL.

The concern increased with the loss of 2 starting Canadians already. That would give us only 7 starting Canadians compared to 9 in 2024.

While that's workable with our depth, it's not optimum IMO. Further to that it puts our Canadian OL depth suspect now and going forward.

It does seem that Walters / O'Shea seemed to suggest 3 import OL is quite probable.

Elks just released Lavoie. Maybe he's worth a look in TC.

In his draft day interview Walters said they are unable to bring back the 2 linemen they sent back to school last season because the league is apparently enforcing the rules for non-counters and they don't have the extra roster space to bring them back.  That sucks for those kids.

[Jesse]

I think we've seen enough from MOS to know that we decides his depth chart pretty early.

The first time we saw our starting OL line up together was in week 1 of the regular season. Despite a couple of new starters, there was no training camp battle, it was pre-determined.

The starters last year are the starters this year. The only question is if it's Wallace or Randolph at guard. I lean Randolph.

[theaardvark]

The fact we have no roster space for Ethan Kalra and Michael Vlahogiannis is actually a good thing, is it not?  That means we have a pipe fully stocked with better talent, right?

[Jesse]

The fact we have no roster space for Ethan Kalra and Michael Vlahogiannis is actually a good thing, is it not?  That means we have a pipe fully stocked with better talent, right?

It means we get to bring less guys in.

Obviously Walters is making the choice to look at new recruits over these two, but previously we would have brought in both.

[theaardvark]

I think we've seen enough from MOS to know that we decides his depth chart pretty early.

The first time we saw our starting OL line up together was in week 1 of the regular season. Despite a couple of new starters, there was no training camp battle, it was pre-determined.

The starters last year are the starters this year. The only question is if it's Wallace or Randolph at guard. I lean Randolph.

I lean Wallace.

a: because he is the future at that spot
b: because we've taken some NAT starter losses, and being able to draft a guy like Elgerma or Samson for free, and extra NAT snaps does this.

It means we get to bring less guys in.

Obviously Walters is making the choice to look at new recruits over these two, but previously we would have brought in both.

We have brought in both last year, and also watched them this year in U Sports.  If they warranted being brought in, they'd be here.  If the only reason they would get an invite is because they were non-counters, its not a great loss...

[Sir Blue and Gold]

In his draft day interview Walters said they are unable to bring back the 2 linemen they sent back to school last season because the league is apparently enforcing the rules for non-counters and they don't have the extra roster space to bring them back.  That sucks for those kids.

Translation - they aren't good enough to use a practice roster spot on compared to who is currently on the pre training camp roster.

[TecnoGenius]

I'm not knocking Lofton but I do wonder whether he's peaked or under increased scrutiny.

After the OL woes in '24, I graded out the OL for pass-pro in about half the games to try to pin down the problem.

Lofton graded very well in nearly all of them, especially as the season went on.  By the year end I think he was better than Yoshi in pass-pro (worse in run road-grade).

But I agree Lofton has peaked: why not, he's not young.  But no law says he can't stay at his current high level (see Stan, Yoshi).  The OL position I am least concerned about is his.

I see nothing keeping Lofton off the AR at RT.  And from KW comments maybe one of the PR IMPs is his & Stan's replacement when they age out in '26-'27.