2026 Main Training Camp - News & Views

[ModAdmin]

Tait's Take | Blue Bombers Training Camp Day 10

Ed Tait
@EdTaitWFC

We've reached double digits in days done at Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp — now 10 and counting — and here is today's collection of notes, quotes and anecdotes...

Count receiver Dorian Singer as one of the many fresh faces in camp still giddy at just having the opportunity to play again and chase that elusive dream of playing professional football.

"I'm learning every day, building that communication and trust factor with my teammates," the Utah/Arizona product told bluebombers.com. "I'm just taking the coaching in — taking the class to the grass as Coach Hall always says. I'm embracing this moment.

"I'm ready. I'm excited. I haven't played football in almost nine months here. I'm excited to put the pads on again, excited to compete with different guys."

There will be a ton of players echoing that sentiment in the days ahead of the first preseason game in Saskatoon this Saturday against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Singer was in camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year and, after a solid training camp, was added to the practice roster before being released not long after.

He was signed by the Blue Bombers in early February and has been pining for a chance to show his stuff again. He's certainly done that throughout the first chunk of training camp.

"The past eight months I was walking by faith not by sight and trusting what God has for me," he said. "Being back out here I give much appreciation to the man above. I'm just going to be where my feet are and not think too far ahead. Just be where your feet are. I learned that from a guy I played with my first couple years, Noah Fifita, who is the quarterback at Arizona, and he said to just take everything in, don't worry about what's next and be where your feet are.

"You appreciate the opportunity because nobody ever knows when their clock is done from football. I'm still learning. Still willing to learn, still love to learn. That's just the game of football that I love."

3 THOUGHTS FROM DAY 10

1 The list of walking wounded at camp is still long and includes SB Nic Demski, RB Brady Oliveira, CB Jonathan Moxey, DL Jake Ceresna, DT Tanner Schmekel (now on the six-game injured list), DB Ethan Ball, WR Pokey Wilson, KR/CB Trey Vaval, DL Michael Fletcher and DL Arnold Young.

Asked whether this was partly preserving players for the regular season or if he was concerned about guys needing to get back out there, head coach Mike O'Shea offered this:

"I think they all need to be out there. I do. That's the way I feel. It's training camp and they need to go through it together and for a variety of reasons. Your quarterbacks need to see guys together beside each other — especially with a new-ish playbook. The terminology. The (new) 35-second clock... we need our guys out there working together.

"That cohesiveness is pretty important. Trust, especially from the quarterback to the receivers, is important. O-line playing together is important. You'd love to go through a training camp with nobody going down. It doesn't work that way, but in an ideal situation you have everybody going all the time so you can figure out who the best groups of people are, not just the best guy."

2 With Moxey out, the two cornerbacks the last couple of days have been Warren Burrell and Ridge Texada. ICYMI, my piece on Burrell from earlier in the week:

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/05/17/blue-bombers-training-camp-day-8/

Texada had an interception on Tuesday, and we also scribbled a couple of stars beside Tommy Nield's name for his work... Pat Neufeld was back at practice after missing a couple of days and then gave way to Ethan Vibert as the session progressed... Draft pick Ethan Stuart is starting to pop out with every day. The McMaster product, drafted in the fourth round, has been working at halfback... O'Shea spoke of second-year receiver Joey Corcoran, praising him for his constant effort. And receiver Christian Fredericksen had another solid day, also earning praise from O'Shea.

"He's been making plays all over the field. He's also one of those guys that just keeps on going. These guys are tired right now and there's certain guys out there you just don't notice it as much. They just have that switch that they can flip — honestly, I don't know him well enough to know what that is. Where'd he get that from? Where'd he learn it and how has managed to do it?

"But we do have a bunch of guys who are just going and going and going. You know they're hurting but they're just relentless."

Another ICYMI and more on Fredericksen here:

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/05/18/blue-bombers-training-camp-day-9/

3 The Blue Bombers added three more Canadians to the roster today, including two Manitoba Bisons products in DT Kaleb Mackie-McLeod (6-4, 275), WR Jackson Tachinski (6-4, 215) and WR Kolby Hurford (5-11, 195, Alberta).

Mackie-McLeod participated in the 2025 East-West Bowl and appeared in 28 games as a Bison after playing at Grant Park High School. Tachinski — you can read about him in a separate story on the site — is the former Bisons QB who recently attended training camp with the Edmonton Elks as a receiver.

Hurford, of Redwater, AB, had 40 catches for 438 yards and two touchdowns in eight games for Alberta last year.

NEXT: The Blue Bombers will continue camp on Wednesday with the session scheduled to run from 9:05-11:10 a.m.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/05/19/taits-take-blue-bombers-training-camp-day-10/

[Tecno]

As to safety, I don't view JY's defence in those terms. You're going to see all on the field and they'll all take turns moving deeper or shallower in the field.

On passing downs, yes.  On running downs we still use FS as a Loffler type -- mainly run support.  They'll sneak up closer to the box, and rarely help double-up a REC.  Of course that's partly why we're often vulnerable to a RPO on 1st down.

[Tecno]

Bombers brought in Jackson Tachinski at wr

That's odd.  When I heard he was available I was like "hard meh".

With TC basically done, does that mean Tachinski is guaranteed at least a PR spot?  If we're going to have 3 NAT starting WRs, I guess we'll want at least 2-3 reasonable backups.

[Tecno]

I am really hopeful about this year.  We usually have some injuries in camp, and losing JSK is unfortunate, but with the depth we have at LB, I can't see it hurting us, he was literally a luxury.

But the depth is mostly NAT!  And never-starting NATs at that!

And our IMP "backups" are all WILL-ish.  What on earth is the plan if Jones gets hurt?  There's no one!  Throw Shay into the fire, I guess?

This was why JSK was brought in.  That's why I think we're on the market right now... watching & waiting for vet TC cuts.