2026 Main Training Camp - News & Views

[kkc60]

Pity, had high hopes for Jahmal Banks, tall receiver with fantastic hands that played for Nebraska, thought he would be the import receiver they kept around on the PR to learn the CFL game. Could be their receiving   priorities changed with the drafting of Daniels and the signing of Nield maybe they don't see the need for another big target. 

big receivers in this league are nice in theory, but just simply is tough. Big guys who are average at best last long in the NFL as STers alone so when one comes through the pipeline there can be a reason. As well, speed is the name of the game

[kkc60]

I get the feeling Singer has the inside track to being that "next" import receiver in the pipeline. Especially since he can return kicks if Vaval plays more on D.

Liked Singer on my jags. only lasted like a day on the practice squad but that was cut to make room for a vet. Was always surprised he didn't resurface, nice to see him here

[Blue In BC]

Liked Singer on my jags. only lasted like a day on the practice squad but that was cut to make room for a vet. Was always surprised he didn't resurface, nice to see him here

We need a good back up returner on the PR. If he can show more as a receiver, then it's even better to have both in his skill set.

There are several possible candidates for that role. The 1st exhibition game will see who does well and in what order during the game.

[Blueforlife]

I have no issues with the play of Kyrie, JSK, or Tony Jones as they are, but their days are numbered. From a logistical standpoint I don't think they should have re-signed Kyrie or brought JSK back as they are both on the tail end of their careers and there are capable younger players in house ready to fill their void. 

Tony Jones is a first rate MLB, in his prime and also inexpensive enough to keep around, the pressure on him stems from 1st round pick Connor Shay, maybe it will have to come down to injury for him to get his opportunity to sink or swim. If they moved on from Tony Jones today he would be picked up by another CFL team tomorrow, the other two likely would be out of work.

Disagree all
Knox is a top player
Wilson coming off a great year
TJ is a beast

[ModAdmin]

Blue Bombers Training Camp | Day 4

Ed Tait
@EdTaitWFC

It became Nuer Gatkuoth's signature celebration move during his days at Wake Forest and Colorado State.

He calls it 'The Shark' and it features the defensive end punctuating a sack, a tackle for loss or any molar-rattling hit by putting his thumb on the front of his helmet with the rest of his hand at a right angle to represent a fin.

And, hell yeah, Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans will certainly be on board to see that regularly from the club's first pick, fourth overall, in the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft.

'Sharknado' anyone? (We're open for nickname/headline suggestions, by the way).

"I'm a relentless defensive end. I would describe myself as a shark," said Gatkuoth Wednesday after his first on-field session as a Blue Bomber following a weekend rookie minicamp appearance with the Denver Broncos.

"If you've ever seen me play that's why I put up the shark (mimics the move) because I feel like I'm a shark — I go out there and I hunt."

There wasn't much hunting for Gatkuoth on Wednesday as he was slowly eased into things on his first practice day. He played mostly the observer, took some snaps during the 12-on-12 session after doing some fitness testing, but did not step into the gauntlet that is O-line vs. D-line one-on-ones later in the session — although he was certainly game.

"I put on the pads, and I asked Coach Westerman (Jamaal Westerman, guest coach), 'Can I play? Can I play?' and he was like, 'Nah, you're done for the day.' It's all good," said Gatkuoth with a grin. "I'll have my shot: I'll have my opportunity to play soon.

"I'll be ready to go sharking, for sure."

The Blue Bombers loved Gatkuoth's film from his college days, where he was named to The Athletic's All-Freshman Team in 2023 at Colorado State and last year at Wake Forest was a finalist for the Jon Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian player in the NCAA.

"He's a good kid. He's in shape. He's ready to go," said Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea after practice. "He's up here sooner than we thought. I was hoping (he would stick with Denver). We've got some really good football players from north of the 49th that do really well down there and I was hoping he was another one.

"He wants to get playing. I like that."

Gatkuoth slightly raised some eyebrows over the weekend when he told The Denver Gazette he wanted to come to the CFL and 'dominate', although he insisted this today when asked for a clarification:

"I want to really just dominate for my team and do everything I can to help the team win. That's what I meant. I knew I wanted to come play in the CFL (after the weekend in Denver).

"I grew up a Canadian and love Canadian ball, so once I didn't get the shot with Denver, I was immediately, 'let me go play with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.' I grew up watching the CFL and was a fan as a kid. Coming here is great. I love the blue."

Asked about the 'dominate the CFL' comment post-practice, O'Shea grinned.

"That's what you'd want everybody to say, isn't it? They want to come and do play their best and do really well. He's wired right.

"You wouldn't want it the other way: 'Well, I hope I come to the CFL and I'm average.' You would never sign a guy like that. He's a competitive guy and his film shows that given his physical stature he packs a lot more punch than you may think. And then you put the film on and you see it.

"We're excited."

An Edmonton product who said he went to at least one CFL game a year as a kid, Gatkuoth attended Austin O'Brien High School in Edmonton before moving to West Toronto Prep prior to transferring to Champion Prep Academy in the U.S. He then landed his first NCAA opportunity with Colorado State before transferring to Wake Forest.

Now, after bouncing around from school to school — and his weekend with the Broncos — Gatkuoth is simply just trying to settle into his new football home.

He said he lost track as to how many hands he's already shaken since arriving Tuesday. It was a whirlwind upon touching down in Winnipeg for a first time — "I came here, went to dinner, went to meetings and went to sleep" — and he's just been following people around from as he gets acclimatized.

And when that happens, he hopes to soon flash the skills that made him a first-round pick.

"I'm a guy who is relentless; a guy who gets out there every day and comes to work and puts everything on the line," he said. "A guy who is there for his teammates and really loves to ball, really loves the game of football.

"I know my ability, I know how I can play this game and how I can affect any team so just being able to go out there and help the team win is my goal for the season."

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/05/13/blue-bombers-training-camp-day-4/

[Tecno]

1. Popping off the page today was defensive back Ethan Ball, who first emerged last year after being selected in the CFL Canadian Draft and authored a solid rookie campaign.

I doubt Ball will be starting at DB anytime soon, but it will sure be nice if we had a NAT DB for max-coverage sets who doesn't get reamed like Kelly did.  Ball could easily take that spot and see some decent (4-10 snaps a game?) action.

Surprising, actually, as I would have pegged Ball to be the NAT DB/LB on the bubble for termination.

[Tecno]

What do you mean?  The only choice is to put him on the 6 game if he's expected to miss the entire season.

Pretty sure we can and have cut players getting injured in TC before.  Teams just drop them like hot potatoes and say "oh well, tough luck!".  It's literally the worst time to get injured as I'm pretty sure they don't earn any salary after that.

Only if we gave JSK a huge bonus (I think it was $0?) or we are really high on him do we have to not cut him.  If they've officially moved him to the 6G and that makes him now uncuttable, then there's got to be a reason for that.

[Tecno]

It they know it's an achilles just say so.

Forget it BinBC, it's WFC-town.

* bonus points if you know the movie reference

[Tecno]

They even drafted Daniels for the express purpose of replacing his role as the "6th" man.

I'm pretty sure Vibert will be dressed as 6th.  Daniels means we don't have to fret about a 7th.

[Tecno]

If they moved on from Tony Jones today he would be picked up by another CFL team tomorrow, the other two likely would be out of work.

I'm sure Kyrie would get snapped up for the bought-for-an-intelligence-debrief a la Biggie.  He's probably the smartest or 2nd smartest player on the D right now, in terms of being able to direct the other players.

That said, Kyrie had another good year, first all-healthy year in a long time, in 2025.  He was pretty effective.  He's certainly as good as league-average WILL.  The only big knock is he doesn't have a ton of beef, meaning he can get smoked by heavy RBs.

I think Kyrie would get picked up if we cut him, and play another season or 2 -- assuming no injuries.

[Tecno]

Ok. Next man up.

What next man?  There is no next man.  We wasted a ton of camp on McGhee and I'm pretty sure the only backup plan is Vaval full-time at corner.  And he's not that great, yet, AND then we lose him as full-time returner.  Ouch.

I haven't heard anyone mention any other DB at all in camp reports.  Unless we are putting Allen or Ball at starting corner!!

KW might we be shopping for a legit vet DB right about now... I'd like to see Bonds return eventually, but he has his own year-long injury to heal up first.

[Tecno]

This is wild to me! Derek Taylor said he was starting every day in practice.

Well, there is a reason he was cut from the absolute worst dumpster fire team in the league... He never wowed me even once in all his time playing.  His name literally meant nothing to me other than we had a McGhee in camp or something in the past seasons.

[Tecno]

That Neur kid sure seems like he has his head on straight, eh?  Says he needs to work on absorbing blockers and his run-stop game.  Not the best news in the world, but at least he's honest.

Likely used in passing downs / cheetah sets mostly to start out.

Will we be seeing him in rotation week 1??  I can see why Mafia liked him enough to spend a 1RDP on him.  If he can be better than Kongbo, it's a win.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

What next man?  There is no next man.  We wasted a ton of camp on McGhee and I'm pretty sure the only backup plan is Vaval full-time at corner.  And he's not that great, yet, AND then we lose him as full-time returner.  Ouch.

I haven't heard anyone mention any other DB at all in camp reports.  Unless we are putting Allen or Ball at starting corner!!

KW might we be shopping for a legit vet DB right about now... I'd like to see Bonds return eventually, but he has his own year-long injury to heal up first.

Heard rookie DB Warren Burrell was looking pretty good on the corner, they're not likely to move on so swiftly unless someone else caught their eye. Bond is still in the picture and worse case scenario they can make do till he returns.

[Tecno]

Heard rookie DB Warren Burrell was looking pretty good on the corner

That's good.  However, now we've wasted like 3/4's of both camps on McGhee.  That's not good.  It means any other rookie may be slow off the mark in week 1.  That's why I think we start with Vaval or find a vet...