Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg at Hamilton - September 12, 2025

[ModAdmin]

With Ed Tait's 48-Hour Primer comes the - not totally unexpected - news that Zack Collaros will not be available for Friday's game against the TiCats.

"It's hardly a newsflash given what has unfolded over the last few days, but it is now officially official: the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will head into Steeltown this week to start the final third of their Canadian Football League schedule without starting quarterback Zach Collaros."

Chris Streveler gets another opportunity to start "with Terry Wilson and Chase Artopoeus available in the quarterback bullpen."

The good news is that Deatrick Nichols returned to full practice participation today after being on the sidelines yesterday, good news indeed.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/09/10/48-hour-primer-week-15-at-hamilton/

Bomber players deemed out for the upcoming game include:

Jamal Parker
Enock Makonzo
Tanner Schmekel
Zach Collaros
Jerreth Sterns

Friday's game is also designated to be the 'Team Ted Game' to honour Tiger-Cats GM Ted Goveia, a long-time fixture in Canadian football and a key part of the Blue Bombers success for over 10 years before his hiring in Steeltown.

Goveia was diagnosed with a serious form of cancer in the spring, and several teams have worn 'Team Ted' T-shirts in support.

3 of the 5 CFL writers predict a Hamilton win.  Hopefully the Bombers will have a performance that says something different!

As always, depth charts and updated news will be forthcoming tomorrow!

[Tecno]

HAM has a serious DL & front 7 that does nothing to aid Strev's main "strength": his running.  HAM will almost certainly force the air game.  Strev will have to reach deep within in order to produce anything.

It may be for the better.  Our chances again HAM were pretty awful even with Zach.  Let's protect him and save him for more important games when our roster has improved.  Hopefully other W teams lose so we don't fall even farther behind until this occurs.

Pretty depressing.

[Tecno]

Haha, playnow has Bombers at 3.30, and HAM by 7.  WPG insanely the underdogs.

No idea why any 3down guy is taking WPG here... well, maybe against the spread.  If the odds get any worse, might be worth a nibble.  If OTT and EDM can win their games last week, then so can we this week.  Just don't bet the farm!

[GOLDMEMBER]

Streveler starts because why? Oh yah because MOS is as stubborn as it gets.
Wilson shows pretty poor in practise I suppose.

[Blueforlife]

Strev starts because of experience and has shown can win ball games.  I love Wilson and would give him some reps Fri.

How Wilson looks at practice isn't a major contributing factor imo unless folks has reports he has struggled.  He has all the tools, just need a chance to polish them and learn by his mistakes.  Of course learning to read defenses is a key challenge.

Will be a tough game playing likely the best performing QB in the league.

[Pete]

Streveler starts because why? Oh yah because MOS is as stubborn as it gets.
Wilson shows pretty poor in practise I suppose.

Stuborness is continuing to trot out Ayers with 0 tackles in last 2 games
In only 2 games all year has he made more than 1 tackle. Yet we need to dress Kornelson to fill in on our dline cause we are only dressing 6 dline, and we are weakening our oline by not having Vanderpool. ( Which currently are our 2 biggest weaknesses other than qb)

[blue_gold_84]

Streveler starts because why? Oh yah because MOS is as stubborn as it gets.
Wilson shows pretty poor in practise I suppose.

He starts because Wilson's the inferior QB. There's nothing more to it than that.

[Blue In BC]

Collaros to 1 game IR. I don't know if that is good news or bad news from a football point of view. We've seen players on the 1 game IR for extended periods ( Parker ) for example.

Hallett finally gets back on the AR to replace Kelly. I thought he might have replaced Ball although he's been more productive on ST's. OTOH, Kelly saw some / more work on defence than Ball.

Houston gets the start bumping Vaval to the role of returner and back up DB. This comes at the expense of Vanterpool. I still don't know if this change at LG is an evaluation him over Wallace or a ratio choice.

Overall I don't understand the situation with Makonzo who is eligible to come off 6 game IR. Obviously Hallett was chosen over him. Not sure if Makonzo is extended on 6 the game IR, moved to 1 game IR or to PR. The depth chart does show him as 6 game IR though.

No change at DT or receiver. AGAIN!!! This game could be ugly quickly. Defence will really need to limit Hamilton output to under 21 points. I don't see our offence winning a blow by blow matching their scoring. Maybe the defence forces some turnovers to help out.

Essentially this seems like change as little as possible to maintain a status quo.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

We might lose by two TDs but at least we're starting nine Canadians. Will also be exciting to see if Jake Thomas can make it 10 defensive tackles in 13 games or if he remains stuck at 9. If that's not exciting enough, you will find out if lucky number game 13 is the one registers his first sack of the season!

[Blue In BC]

Lions and Elks appear to have an easier weekend game. We need to win in order to sustain our advantage in the standings at the moment.

Roster changes aside, the Bombers need to step up and squeak out a victory.

[Mick]

Game is the 12th, not the 13th as the title states.

[The Zipp]

Time for the Strevolution...I have been pretty hard on the guy this season but if he is the QB playing I will support him and hope he has the game of his life running and throwing absolute darts.

GO STREVY GO!!

[gobombersgo]

[gobombersgo]

[gobombersgo]

Ed Tait   @EdTaitWFC
FYI: Collaros and Vanterpool were placed on the one-game injured list.