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.

[Tecno]

Interesting wording in MOS's May 19 presser: "newish playbook".

I think many of us were expecting a complete tossing & rewrite of the O rule book, because that's what new super-experienced OCs usually do(?).

So, new-ish??  Did Mafia tell Condell to integrate some of the old system so there wasn't as much for the uber-vets (and MOS!) to learn?

[kkc60]

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.

TC is in no way "almost done", they still have two preseason games to play. They probably want to carry at least two Canadian RECs on the PR, so having a relatively open competition is smart.

Still not sure I'm a fan of three Canadian receivers, unless that equates to three American OL/two American DT's. Clercius is a good blocker and STer, middling receiver. Cobb is really a specialist of much, master of none. Just worried forcing that third canadian is gonna hurt our passing game.

[kkc60]

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.

I think JSK was a Wil here originally. I think Shay is a fine backup, yes inexperienced but you only get experience by playing.

[BIGBLUE204]

Interesting wording in MOS's May 19 presser: "newish playbook".

I think many of us were expecting a complete tossing & rewrite of the O rule book, because that's what new super-experienced OCs usually do(?).

So, new-ish??  Did Mafia tell Condell to integrate some of the old system so there wasn't as much for the uber-vets (and MOS!) to learn?

Yes and no. Condell will have things he likes to do that are different, but he still has to work with the players he has and collaros will have systems/styles that he likes as well. Then there are just systems/plays that most teams run.

And then there's MOS speak...newish playbook can mean anything lol.

[CrazyCanuck89]

I think JSK was a Wil here originally. I think Shay is a fine backup, yes inexperienced but you only get experience by playing.

Exactly!  The dumbest saying is that well he has no expierence.  The only way you get expierence is by playing.

[towelie]

Receiver is interesting this year... injuries aside.

Signing Tachinski at this stage makes me believe they do want 3 cdn's starting, and that they're not necessarily thrilled with their backups. Corcoran,or Clercius might be on the cut bubble here. I hope we don't force 3 starters if we have significantly better options at IMP. I'd prefer Collaros have the best weapons possible available to him.

On that note, Fredericksen and Singer both seem to be getting the media and bombers.com coverage that suggest they're going to be on the team in some capacity. Depending on how the roster shakes out there probably is room for 1 on the AR. Singer might have an inside track also working as another returner, but if Fredericksen keeps making clutch grabs in camp... preseason games should be fun.

[Blue In BC]

Receiver is interesting this year... injuries aside.

Signing Tachinski at this stage makes me believe they do want 3 cdn's starting, and that they're not necessarily thrilled with their backups. Corcoran,or Clercius might be on the cut bubble here. I hope we don't force 3 starters if we have significantly better options at IMP. I'd prefer Collaros have the best weapons possible available to him.

On that note, Fredericksen and Singer both seem to be getting the media and bombers.com coverage that suggest they're going to be on the team in some capacity. Depending on how the roster shakes out there probably is room for 1 on the AR. Singer might have an inside track also working as another returner, but if Fredericksen keeps making clutch grabs in camp... preseason games should be fun.

Having 10 Canadian receivers on the roster at the moment is unusual. If one of the 2 imports mentioned is on the roster, he'd be starting not sitting on the bench as a DI.

[ModAdmin]

Blue Bombers Transactions - May 20, 2026

WINNIPEG, MB., May 20, 2026 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the following transactions.

Released from roster:
American defensive lineman Arnold Young
American defensive lineman Michael Fletcher

[Jesse]

Some good news from Derek Taylor today: Pokey is back, Dixon looks like a beast, and Ceresna comes as advertised.

Derek Taylor🏈
@DTonOB
Day 11 of Bombers camp: Oliveira, Pokey Wilson and Ceresna appear back from injury.
I count just six sitting today:

Demski
Eli
QB Payton Thorne
Moxey
Vaval
Ball

Shorter practice day for the Bombers today so the pads are already on.
Working on some special teams stuff for the first time today.

And the QBs all looked sharp in a red zone drill.

DE De'Shaan Dixon having a great session in the padded 1-on-1s. Jacked up Bryant, moved Broxton back into the QB and whizzed by Wallace from the interior.

And it is legit shocking to see how quickly Jake Ceresna can dust a guard in these drills. A quick swipe gets the hands off and he's virtually untouched to the QB.

Michael Ayers with the 1s on D in Tony Jones spot. Jones is here.

[Blueforlife]

Blue Bombers Transactions - May 20, 2026

WINNIPEG, MB., May 20, 2026 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the following transactions.

Released from roster:
American defensive lineman Arnold Young
American defensive lineman Michael Fletcher

Anyone surprised?

What's the pecking order for non stud DLs now?

[Pete]

Anyone surprised?

What's the pecking order for non stud DLs now?

I'm more than surprised they must really like Jonah Pace as he's the only import dt left in training camp. I hope to heck this doesn't mean we have Kornelson as our backup dt option, shades of Thomas.
I was really hoping for a Jefferson/Ceresna/Lawton/Dixon line with Bailey, Gatkouth and a import dt to give us a potentially dominant line. But I guess we have to use all our di's on linebackers (OSheas trademark)