Blue Bombers roster - 2025-2026

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Blue Bombers add to roster

WINNIPEG, MB., April 21, 2026 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has signed American defensive back Matthew Jackson.

Jackson (6-1, 209, Eastern Kentucky; born: November 9, 1998, in Chicago, IL.) re-signs after spending time on the Blue Bombers' practice roster in 2025.

Jackson signed with the Bombers last season during practice roster expansion, spending just over a month with the club.

Following the 2023 NFL Draft, Jackson signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent and earned a spot on the team's initial 53-man roster out of training camp. He appeared in nine games during the 2023 season, registering one defensive tackle and five special teams tackles.

Jackson was released prior to the start of the 2024 season and was later signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He saw action in all three preseason games, recording four tackles, and opened the regular season on the practice squad. He was later elevated for one game against the Indianapolis Colts before being released.

At Eastern Kentucky (2018–2022), Jackson appeared in 50 games, totaling 294 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and ten pass breakups. He established himself as one of the top defensive players in the FCS, earning All-ASUN honours, Stats Perform Third-Team All-America recognition in 2022, and finalist status for the Buck Buchanan Award in 2021.

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Transactions:

2026-04-21   WPG   BIGHILL, Adam   LB   A   Central Washington   ADD   Retired

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Ed Tait   @EdTaitWFC   Apr 21
For those who have asked... Taylor Elgersma will be wearing #13 when
@Wpg_BlueBombers rookie camp opens on May 6th.

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Ed Tait   @EdTaitWFC
CFL announces QB Internship participants for training camp. The @Wpg_BlueBombers will be joined by Cole Anseeuw of the @umbisons, who was also around last year:

Winnipeg | Cole Anseeuw | Manitoba | Winnipeg
2025: Eight games
Entering third season with Bisons
2025 QB Internship participant (Winnipeg)


QB internship class of '26 set to take the field
TORONTO — U SPORTS quarterbacks from across the country will take the field alongside their professional counterparts for the 2026 Canadian Football League (CFL) QB Internship program ahead of the upcoming season.

Since the program's inception in 2010, amateur and collegiate pivots have joined CFL clubs ahead of the upcoming campaign to participate in practices, and attend team and positional meetings, in hopes of improving their craft.

The preseason slate gets underway on May 18 before the season kicks off June 4 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats playing host to the Montreal Alouettes.

Notable past participants

Taylor Elgersma (TOR: 2022 and 2023, HAM: 2024)
Jonathan Sénécal (MTL: 2022 and 2024)
Arnaud Desjardins (WPG: 2023)
Tre Ford (MTL: 2018, HAM: 2019)
Michael O'Connor (BC: 2015 and 2016, TOR: 2018)

CFL QB INTERNSHIP – CLASS OF 2026
(Team | Name | School | Hometown)
Montreal | Jérémy Fyfe | Sherbrooke | Montreal
Ottawa | Elijah Barnes | Carleton | Ancaster, Ont.
Toronto | Tristan Aboud | Guelph | Montreal
Hamilton | Lucas Barresi | McMaster | Hamilton, Ont.
Winnipeg | Cole Anseeuw | Manitoba | Winnipeg
Saskatchewan | Jake Farrell | Saskatchewan | Saskatoon
Calgary | David Jordan | Calgary | Los Angeles
Edmonton | Finn Goerzen | Alberta | Calgary
BC | Drew Viotto| UBC | Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

https://www.cfl.ca/2026/04/23/qb-internship-class-of-26-set-to-take-the-field/

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Positional Preview 2026 #1 The Specialists
April 16, 2026   by Ed Tait

THE SPECIALISTS

Special teams coordinator: Mike Miller
The returnees:
Placekicker: Sergio Castillo
Punter: Jamieson Sheahan
Long-snapper: Ian Leroux
Returner: Trey Vaval

Keep an eye on:
KR/CB Trey Vaval, #23

Ok, so after all of the above let's all agree that Vaval is a dangerous returner, capable of busting just about any punt, kickoff or missed field goal return. But he also flashed in his four starts at cornerback, and this leads to an important pre-camp discussion/question — the Blue Bombers two starting corners from last year's Eastern Semi-final loss to Montreal are gone in Demerio Houston and Jamal Parker, Jr.

The club added veteran Jonathan Moxey in free agency — he has 82 games to his name with Hamilton and Calgary — but how much of a look will Vaval get at the other cornerback spot, knowing how valuable he is on special teams?

Did you know?
The Blue Bombers had 24 penalties on special teams last year, third fewest in the CFL behind Hamilton (22) and Edmonton (23). The club had been the league's least-penalized team on special teams in the four previous years — 21 in 2024 and 2023, 19 in 2021 (in 14 games) and 30 in 2019. Overall, Winnipeg was again the CFL's least penalized team.

Notable Number: 11
Winnipeg's 11 big-play kick returns last year matched their total in 2023 ( and 2024 (3) combined. Also worth noting is the importance of Vaval's four kick return scores — three of them came in games in which Zach Collaros was out due to injury and in which the overall passing totals for a struggling offence were less than 175 yards. His first two return scores came in a win over Toronto in which Chris Streveler threw for 173 yards, while a third came in the goofy win in Ottawa in September in which the offence finished with just 54 passing yards.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/04/16/positional-previews-2026-1-the-specialists/

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Positional Preview #2 The Defensive Backs
April 17, 2026   by Ed Tait

The Defensive Backs

Defensive coordinator: Jordan Younger
Defensive assistant: Richie Hall
The Returnees:
Starters: Halfbacks Deatrick Nichols and Evan Holm, safety Cam Allen, dime back Redha Kramdi*
Vets: Michael Griffin II, Jaiden Woodbey, Trey Vaval, Nick Hallett*, Jake Kelly*, Ethan Ball*
CFL vets: Jonathan Moxey (82 games with Hamilton/Calgary from 2019-25), Deandre Lamont (41 games with Ottawa from 2023-25), Alijah McGhee (19 games with Ottawa over 2023-25)
Newcomers: Ridge Texada and Major Williams (were on Blue Bombers practice roster for a bit in the fall), Robert Javier (Saskatchewan practice roster last fall), Bryan Addison, Shyheim Battle, Warren Burrell, Javaris Davis, Michael Dixon, Cameron McCutcheon, Jordan Taylor
Departed: Demerio Houston (Ottawa), Jamal Parker, Jr. (B.C.), Marquise Bridges (B.C.), Terrell Bonds, Dexter Lawson, Jr., Enock Makonzo* (Toronto)
*Indicates Canadian

Keep an eye on:
CB Jonathan Moxey, #2

The Blue Bombers have chased Moxey before in free agency — his was on their radar when he left Calgary for Hamilton in  2024 — and his experience should provide stability at one of the two vacant cornerback positions.

He has bopped all over the secondary during his six CFL seasons, but started all 18 last year in Hamilton at corner. What makes him especially valuable is his versatility and that positional flexibility makes him an intriguing addition for Younger and his defence.

Did you know?
A stat we reserve for this space and have trotted out for the nine previous incarnations of our defensive back positional preview because it still remains so astonishing – back in 1990 the Blue Bombers defence set a CFL record that still stands with 48 interceptions. That total included 26 picks by the two corners, both in the Blue Bomber Hall of fame, with Less Browne finishing with 14 and Rod Hill stealing an even dozen.

Last season, Winnipeg's six different starting cornerbacks combined for three interceptions and the Blue Bombers had 13 interceptions as a team — tied for last in the CFL — with Hamilton leading the league with 27. No Blue Bombers defender has reached double digits in interceptions since Browne had 10 in 1991, with Winston Rose leading the league in 2019 with nine.

Notable Number(s): 2-1-1-1-1
We touched on this above but it bears repeating: Winnipeg finished second in passing yards allowed last year at 261.4. Prior to that, the passing yardage allowed totals were 234.8 in 2024 (1st in the CFL); 229.4 in 2023 (1st); 253.6 in 2022 (T-1st) and 216.4 in 2021 (1st).

Just by comparison, prior to this current run the Blue Bombers gave up an average of 303.4 yards passing in 2019, which ranked sixth in the league.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/04/17/positional-preview-2-the-defensive-backs-2/

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Positional Preview #3 The Linebackers
April 18, 2026   by Ed Tait

The Linebackers

Linebackers coach: James Stanley
The Returnees
Starters: Tony Jones (18 starts), Kyrie Wilson (18 starts)
Returning vets: Michael Ayers, Tanner Cadwallader*, Connor Shay*, Jaylen Smith*, Lane Novak*
CFL vets: Jovan Santos-Knox (Ottawa)
Newcomers: Brandon Bouyer-Randle, Micah Cretsinger, Johnny Hodges, Mike Smith, Jr., Aaron Smith
Departed: Shayne Gauthier*, Fabian Weitz (Global), Jonathan Jones (Ottawa)
*Indicates Canadian

Keep an eye on:
Connor Shay #34
Jaylen Smith #39
Lane Novak #48

There was some major eyebrow raising across the CFL on draft night last spring when the Blue Bombers took Shay and Smith with their first two selections — 6th and 15th overall — and then grabbed Novak 45th overall. Yet, as mentioned above, all three rookie linebackers made the club out of camp and both Smith (22 tackles) and Shay (14) made significant contributions on special teams.

Now the question will be what kind of growth they might show in Year 2. If it's significant enough by any of the three to push for defensive snaps this season, it gives the Blue Bombers that much more roster flexibility with the ratio.

Did you know?
Adam Bighill was the last linebacker to be named the club's Most Outstanding Defensive Player, as he was saluted in 2021 and 2018 before that.

Also, dating back to 1962 a Blue Bombers linebacker has been named to the CFL All-Star Team 23 times, led by Tyrone Jones (four times, 1984-87)) with other multiple-year honours going to Bighill (2018, 2021), Barrin Simpson (2006-07), Greg Battle (1990-91), James West (1987, 1989) and Phil Minnick (1966, 1969). The others: Henoc Muamba (2013), Zeke Moreno (2008), Maurice Kelly (1999), Shonte Peoples (1997), K.D. Williams (1996), Elfrid Payton 91993), Aaron Brown (1984), Harry Walters (1979 and Gord Rowland (1962).

Notable Number: 102
Tony Jones became just the seventh player in Blue Bombers history to crack the century mark for tackles in a season last year with his 102 takedowns.

Barrin Simpson holds the club record for defensive tackles in a season with 112, set in 2007 and also had 110 tackles in 2006. That total is followed by Greg Battle (108 in 1989; he also had 100 in 1990), Henoc Muamba (106 in 2013), Adam Bighill (105 in 2018), with Jones equalling Khalil Bass (2015) and K.D. Williams (1996) with his 102 total.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/04/18/positional-preview-3-the-linebackers-3/

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Positional Preview #4 The Defensive Line
April 19, 2026 by Ed Tait

The Defensive Line

Defensive line coach: Jake Thomas
The Returnees:
Starters: Willie Jefferson, Cam Lawson*
Returning vets: Tanner Schmekel*, Collin Kornelson*, Kemari Munier-Bailey (Global), Kydran Jenkins, Matthew Jaworski, DeShaan Dixon (practice roster in the fall)
CFL vets: Jake Ceresna (Edmonton)
Newcomers: Khris Bogle, Michael Fletcher, Warren Peeples, Arnold Young
Departed: Jake Thomas* (retired), James Vaughters (Saskatchewan), Devin Adams (Saskatchewan), Jamal Woods (free agent)
*Indicates Canadian

Keep an eye on:
#90 De'Shaan Dixon

We lauded a ton of D-linemen above, from vets like Jefferson, Ceresna and Lawson wo the promising newcomers who flashed at the end of the year.

Let it be said there is also a quiet buzz about Dixon as training camp approaches. He was added to the practice roster in mid-October last year and will very much be in the mix right from the get-go in a couple of weeks.

Dixon appeared in 42 games during his collegiate career at Norfolk State and then spent time (2022-24) with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Did you know?
Winnipeg finished 2025 with a league-low 23 sacks — 1.28 per game — but did rank first in the fewest offensive points allowed (21.4), second in passing yards allowed per game (261.4) and first in lowest opposition quarterback percentage against (62.2).

The last time the Blue Bombers led the league in sacks was 2018, when they tied with four other teams with 48. And the last time the defence led the league in sacks outright was 2011, with 55. The team record for sacks in a season is 75, set in 1984 (with the stat first tracked by the league in 1980). Tyrone Jones led the team that year with 20.5 sacks (back when the CFL credited half sacks), a record that stood until Elfrid Payton had 22 in 1993.

Notable Number(s): 47/94
Jefferson has 47 career quarterback sacks as a Blue Bomber, sixth-most in franchise history (Tyrone Jones is first all-time with 98) and one back of both Gavin Walls and Elfrid Payton in fifth spot.

He also has 94 pass knockdowns in his CFL career after swatting down a league-high 16 last year, tying his own franchise record and his total is now second in league history to Eddie Davis, who finished his career with Birmingham, Calgary and Saskatchewan with 111.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/04/19/positional-preview-4-the-defensive-line/

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Positional Preview #5  The Offensive Line
April 20, 2026   by Ed Tait

The Offensive Line

Offensive line coach: Marty Costello
The Returnees:
Starters: Left tackle Stanley Bryant, left guard Gabe Wallace*, right guard Pat Neufeld*, right tackle Kendall Randolph
Returning vets: Guard/centre Tui Eli*, guard Micah Vanterpool, Ethan Vibert*, Tyler Elsbury (spent time on the practice roster in '25), Hunter Poncius (also spent time on the practice roster last year)
CFL vets added: OT Jarell Broxton (B.C.), Tariq Stewart (has had looks from Edmonton, Saskatchewan and B.C.)
2025 CFL Draft pick:  Iwinosa Uwubanmwen (Rd 8, 71st overall did not attend camp last year)
Newcomers: Ben Dooley, Zovon Lindsay, Micah Mazzccua, Joseph More, Sebastian Poncius, Bucky Williams
Departed: Chris Kolankowski* (Hamilton), Eric Lofton (Hamilton)
*Indicates Canadian

Keep an eye on:
OT, #55, Jarell Broxton

Two of the biggest additions the Blue Bombers made in free agency in February came at the line of scrimmage, with Jake Ceresna on the defensive side and Broxton at tackle on offence.

Broxton is a tone setter with his run blocking and in pass protection and, should Stanley Bryant ever retire, could shift back to left tackle. But that's a down the road thing right now. In the meantime, it could be argued Broxton was the team's biggest — literally and figuratively — addition this winter.

Did you know?
Last season was the first time since 2015 that the Blue Bombers did not place at least one offensive lineman on the CFL All-Star Team.

Prior to that: Stanley Bryant (2024), Pat Neufeld/Jermarcus Hardrick (2023), Bryant/Neufeld (2022), Bryant/Neufeld/Hardrick (2021), Bryant (2019), Bryant/Matthias Goosen (2018), Bryant (2017) and Travis Bond (2016).

Notable Number:
The CFL has been tracking quarterback sacks since the early 1980s. Winnipeg surrendered 37 last year, as mentioned above. The club record for the fewest was 16 in 2021 (in the Covid-19 shortened 14-game season of 2021), with just 20 given up in a full season in 1993.

The most sacks surrendered in Blue Bombers history was 71 in 2014.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/04/20/positional-preview-5-the-offensive-line/

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Positional Preview #6  The Receivers
April 21, 2026   by Ed Tait

The Receivers

Receivers coach: Lee Hull
The Returnees:
Starters: Nic Demski*, Pokey Wilson,  Kevens Clercius*, Joey Corcoran*
Returning vets: Gavin Cobb*
CFL vets: Tim White (Hamilton), Tommy Nield* (Saskatchewan)
2025 CFL Draft pick: (Rd 5, 39th overall)
Newcomers: Jahmal Banks, TJ Davis, Christian Fredericksen, Bryce Kirtz, Jamoi Mayes Gerald Monroe, Dorian Singer, Key'Shawn Smith, Kenneth Womack
Departed: Keric Wheatfall (Hamilton), Jerreth Sterns (Montreal), Dalton Schoen (injured, unsigned free agent), Dillon Mitchell, Kody Case (injured, unsigned free agent), Cam Echols (unsigned free agent)
*Indicates Canadian

Keep an eye on:
WR Tim White, #12

Here are his gaudy numbers: in 83 games over his five years with the Ticats – all starts – White had four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, including 84 receptions for 1,016 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025.

He was named an All-CFL three times (2022, 2023, 2024), an East Division All-CFL on four occasions (2021-24) and was twice named the Tiger-Cats Most Outstanding Player (2022-23).

Insert White into a receiving group which features Demski and Wilson and there's a hope the field can be stretched vertically with his speed while providing another proven target for Collaros & Co.

Did you know?
Demski has now posted three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, including 67 receptions for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns.

The last Blue Bombers receiver to post four straight 1K seasons was Milt Stegall, who did so every year during a stretch from 1999-2007. No Canadian receiver in franchise history has had four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, with Demski and Gerald Wilcox (1993-95) having each done it three years in a row.

Notable Number: 51.2%
The Blue Bombers had 11 different receivers catch passes in 2025 in Demski, Wheatfall, Sterns, Wilson, Clercius, Schoen, Mitchell, Corcoran, Cobb, Case and Echols.

The six now departed — Wheatfall, Serns, Schoen, Mitchell, Case and Echols, combined for 155 of the club's 300 catches by receivers last year, or 51.2 percent. Sterns (48 receptions) and Wheatfall (42) also ranked second and third in catches among receivers for the Blue Bombers a year ago.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/04/21/positional-preview-6-the-receivers/

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Positional Preview '26  #7 The Running Backs/Fullbacks
April 22, 2026   by Ed Tait

The Running Backs/Fullbacks

Running backs coach: Jason Hogan
The Returnees:
Starter: Brady Oliveira*
Returning vets: RB Matthew Peterson, FB Michael Chris-Ike*
Newcomers: J.J. Taylor
Departed: Peyton Logan (Toronto), Quinton Cooley (released last year)
*Indicates Canadian

Keep an eye on:
J.J. Taylor, #24

Taylor is the only newcomer in this positional group so far and he brings an intriguing resumé as a 28-year-old who played in 17 NFL games with the New England Patriots and Houston Texans. Listed at 5-6, his NFL draft scouting reports nonetheless refer to him as 'more power back than water bug.'

And his strengths seem to fit the Blue Bombers profile:

'Coaching staff loves him. Wears weight in lower half. Runs with physical, tough demeanour. Vision promotes decisive running style. Able to break more tackles than expected. Able to beat linebackers one-on-one out of backfield. Catches with nice, soft hands. Kick return experience.'

Did you know?
Since the turn of the millennium the Blue Bombers have had nine rushing champs — Charles Roberts (2003, 2005, 2006), Fred Reid (2010), Andrew Harris (2017-19) and Oliveira (2023-24).

Calgary is next with seven over that span — including Dedrick Mills last year — followed by Montreal with four, while Toronto, Edmonton, Hamilton and B.C. have each had one rushing champ since 2000.

Notable Number:
Winnipeg's rushing totals were one of the few offensive categories that saw an increase in 2025, as the club finished second in the league with an average of 124.1 yards per game — up from 111.7 in 2024.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/04/22/positional-preview-26-7-the-running-backs-fullbacks/

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Positional Preview '26  The Quarterbacks
April 23, 2026   by Ed Tait

Quarterbacks

Offensive coordinator/QB coach: Tommy Condell
The Returnees:
Starter: Zach Collaros
Returning vets: Terry Wilson
2025 CFL Draft: Taylor Elgersma* (Rd 2, 18th overall)
Newcomers: Bryce Perkins, Payton Thorne
Departed: Chris Streveler (retired) Chase Artopoeus (retired)

Keep an eye on:
Bryce Perkins, #9

The 2025 season was still very much in the rear-view mirror when the Blue Bombers announced the signing of Perkins late last November.

There's a lot to be fascinated by with his credentials, too. He's 29 with a pro football resumé that includes spending the last two years in the UFL, where he was named the league's MVP and Offensive Player of the Year last season with a league-leading passer rating of 108.7.

Perkins was also part of the Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl LVI winning squad of 2021, appearing in five games and making one start. He spent his college days at Arizona State and Virginia and with the Cavaliers in 2018 set a school record for single-season offence with 3.603 yards and 34 touchdowns.

Did you know?
Collaros is 55-20 in the regular season as a Blue Bombers starter with his win total ranking behind only Ken Ploen (82) and Dieter Brock (71) in franchise history.

He's third in Blue Bombers history in TD passes with 126 — Brock finished with 187; Khari Jones is second at 139 — and third in passing yardage at 19,225, just 950 yards behind Jones.

Notable Number:
No QB in Blue Bombers history has a better passer rating than Collaros at 106.4.

Some other passer ratings among the club's legendary QBs with 35 or more starts: Matt Nichols (60 starts/97.4), Jack Jacobs (62/90.7), Jones (73/90.6), Kevin Glenn (73/89.5), Tom Clements (60/87.5), Matt Dunigan (39/86.3), Brock (120/84.9), Kenny Ploen (135/82.7) and Don Jonas (53/69.7).

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/04/23/positional-preview-26-the-quarterbacks/