2026 Main Training Camp - News & Views

[GOLDMEMBER]

Ceresna was a non participant again to. Street clothes unfortunately.

[Jesse]

Cobb has moved up the depth chart and is more versatile which gives him a big edge. It may come down to whether we're starting 2 or 3 Canadian receivers. We have options but which works out to be the best is a TBD.

If they keep it the way we've seen so far, it's not so much "3 Canadian receivers" as much as it is 2 Canadian receivers + one of an extra OL, FB, and/or TE.

[bunker]

That's a good observation. If we elect to pick someone like Cob as receiver 5, he'll likely only see about 1/3 of all the offensive reps.

[ModAdmin]

Blue Bombers Training Camp | Day 8

Ed Tait
@EdTaitWFC

It's too long ago now to recount every detail, but Warren Burrell does remember this: Milt Stegall always had some gems to tell about Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers and playing in the Canadian Football League.

All these years later, some of Milt's tales now seem to be coming true to life as Burrell has just completed another day of training camp with those same Blue Bombers that were once folklore.

"When I was a kid, we'd be over at my uncle Rodney (Lumpkins) house and Milt, who was a family friend, would tell me stories about his playing days," Burrell told bluebombers.com after practice on Sunday. "Milt would tell us all these crazy stories, like how he would drink honey on the sidelines straight from the bottle.

"When you're a kid, you're not always really paying attention to it. But as I got older — and especially after finding out I was going to be coming here — you start to realize more about what he was saying.

"And then when I was looking into it further, he was waaaaay better than I thought he was. I always thought he was good, but he's truly a legend. So, to come here and see his name outside the stadium and then in here on the Ring of Honour... it's really, really cool."

Burrell has been one of the newcomers standing out through the first week of training camp as he continues to get a lot of reps with the starting defence at the cornerback spot next to Deatrick Nichols.

A product of Georgia Tech and Tennessee, Burrell's last football opportunity was in mini camp with the New York Jets. When that didn't lead to a shot, he went back to Georgia Tech to finish his masters in international affairs — he has a specific interest in climate change.

The opportunity he is chasing now, though, is here with the Blue Bombers — the team he heard so much about from one of the franchise's legends and has since studied up on since signing here in January.

"Not everybody is family friends with Milt Stegall," said head coach Mike O'Shea when asked of Burrell's pre-camp prep on the CFL. "The bottom line is you don't always have access to information. But you would expect in any job interview... I hope for my kids when they go on a job interview, they do some research on the company they're talking to, who they're going to be dealing with, who they are interviewing with.

"I do think the young guys coming up to the CFL for the first time need to watch some CFL games. They can get them and if they know anybody that's ever been in the CFL they should be reaching out and talking to them and figuring out what it is — the major differences and what they have to look forward to. It's sometimes hard for guys in all three phases to watch a game and go, 'Oh, I understand what they're doing here.' You can read a rule, but when you get on the field things can be different."

O'Shea noted Burrell's cover skills and how quickly he's picking the Canadian version of the game up while fighting through the ups and downs every player — rookie and vet alike — experiences during camp.

What's also been evident is how much Burrell covets this opportunity. Putting his master's to work in the climate change field can wait.

"Right now my focus is to see what I can do on the field," he said. "It's one thing when you know you're not good enough or you don't have it. Then it's easier to move on. It's another when you know you can play at that level.

"It was just about patience for me. Maybe if I had got that opportunity at the time I wouldn't have been ready for it. Now, going through that process and having that time to get my conditioning right, lift more weights, finish my masters... I feel it's prepared me better for this moment.

"I was able to have a conversation about this place with Milt before I got here and he said all good things," Burrell said. "He told me about the standard that they have and so I feel I was pretty well prepared before I got here.

"Now... I love it here. I love the guys here, the coaches... everything is great. Everything happens for a reason. I'm where I'm supposed to be. All we have is today. I can't look too far ahead; I can't look at yesterday. All we have is today. It's right here and right now for me."

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

[Jesse]

Blue Bombers Training Camp | Day 8

Ed Tait
@EdTaitWFC

It's too long ago now to recount every detail, but Warren Burrell does remember this: Milt Stegall always had some gems to tell about Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers and playing in the Canadian Football League.

All these years later, some of Milt's tales now seem to be coming true to life as Burrell has just completed another day of training camp with those same Blue Bombers that were once folklore.

"When I was a kid, we'd be over at my uncle Rodney (Lumpkins) house and Milt, who was a family friend, would tell me stories about his playing days," Burrell told bluebombers.com after practice on Sunday. "Milt would tell us all these crazy stories, like how he would drink honey on the sidelines straight from the bottle.

"When you're a kid, you're not always really paying attention to it. But as I got older — and especially after finding out I was going to be coming here — you start to realize more about what he was saying.

"And then when I was looking into it further, he was waaaaay better than I thought he was. I always thought he was good, but he's truly a legend. So, to come here and see his name outside the stadium and then in here on the Ring of Honour... it's really, really cool."

Burrell has been one of the newcomers standing out through the first week of training camp as he continues to get a lot of reps with the starting defence at the cornerback spot next to Deatrick Nichols.

A product of Georgia Tech and Tennessee, Burrell's last football opportunity was in mini camp with the New York Jets. When that didn't lead to a shot, he went back to Georgia Tech to finish his masters in international affairs — he has a specific interest in climate change.

The opportunity he is chasing now, though, is here with the Blue Bombers — the team he heard so much about from one of the franchise's legends and has since studied up on since signing here in January.

"Not everybody is family friends with Milt Stegall," said head coach Mike O'Shea when asked of Burrell's pre-camp prep on the CFL. "The bottom line is you don't always have access to information. But you would expect in any job interview... I hope for my kids when they go on a job interview, they do some research on the company they're talking to, who they're going to be dealing with, who they are interviewing with.

"I do think the young guys coming up to the CFL for the first time need to watch some CFL games. They can get them and if they know anybody that's ever been in the CFL they should be reaching out and talking to them and figuring out what it is — the major differences and what they have to look forward to. It's sometimes hard for guys in all three phases to watch a game and go, 'Oh, I understand what they're doing here.' You can read a rule, but when you get on the field things can be different."

O'Shea noted Burrell's cover skills and how quickly he's picking the Canadian version of the game up while fighting through the ups and downs every player — rookie and vet alike — experiences during camp.

What's also been evident is how much Burrell covets this opportunity. Putting his master's to work in the climate change field can wait.

"Right now my focus is to see what I can do on the field," he said. "It's one thing when you know you're not good enough or you don't have it. Then it's easier to move on. It's another when you know you can play at that level.

"It was just about patience for me. Maybe if I had got that opportunity at the time I wouldn't have been ready for it. Now, going through that process and having that time to get my conditioning right, lift more weights, finish my masters... I feel it's prepared me better for this moment.

"I was able to have a conversation about this place with Milt before I got here and he said all good things," Burrell said. "He told me about the standard that they have and so I feel I was pretty well prepared before I got here.

"Now... I love it here. I love the guys here, the coaches... everything is great. Everything happens for a reason. I'm where I'm supposed to be. All we have is today. I can't look too far ahead; I can't look at yesterday. All we have is today. It's right here and right now for me."

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

This is a cool story.

[ModAdmin]

Ahead of the regular season, the final roster limit of 45 active players will be determined following the conclusion of training camp on May 30, 2026.

[Tecno]

Listening to O'Shea talking about Chris-Ike, I wonder if he's moving up the depth chart as the back up RB? He seems to be getting praised for his work at FB but is showing flashes as a RB. Can we find room for him and Peterson or does Daniels spend some time on the reserve getting up to CFL speed?

Each of these 3 have value but can we find room for all 3 on the AR at the same time?

They were talking a lot about McGhee, then dumped him.  Ike or Peterson could still suffer the same fate.

I'm starting to wonder if Daniels isn't now in "dev year" mode.  He may not be on AR week 1.  Might not even make reserve.  PR seems possible.  If that's the case then Peterson & Ike both dress and there's no roster issue.

The new DE seems headed in the same direction.  If 1RDP Shay spent a year basically doing nothing, then it's entirely possible these new guys do too.  It's just the Mafia way.  Pay your dues first.

We always want a first-year-starter, but we basically never get it, at least outside of hoggies.  Nope, such Nice Things only happen to other teams.

[Pete]

Another option is Daniels on the roster and Corcoran on pr

[Jesse]

They were talking a lot about McGhee, then dumped him.  Ike or Peterson could still suffer the same fate.

I'm starting to wonder if Daniels isn't now in "dev year" mode.  He may not be on AR week 1.  Might not even make reserve.  PR seems possible.  If that's the case then Peterson & Ike both dress and there's no roster issue.

The new DE seems headed in the same direction.  If 1RDP Shay spent a year basically doing nothing, then it's entirely possible these new guys do too.  It's just the Mafia way.  Pay your dues first.

We always want a first-year-starter, but we basically never get it, at least outside of hoggies.  Nope, such Nice Things only happen to other teams.

Ike and Peterson are in no danger. They're important depth and ST players at the very least.

Daniels was always a developmental player. I believe he'll be on the roster but he'll need time to be worked in. The PR is always possible/likely for a draft pick.

[Tecno]

Ya, but something's gotta give.  If we put the new 1RDP & 2RDP onto AR then we need 2 spots vs last year.  Gauthier gone frees up 1.  Where does the other come from?

Hallett was re-signed, but so far quiet in camp.  Ball seems to have found some mojo and may be a rising star.  Pete might be on to something with Corcoran.  And he'd be fine with the PR and no one would snipe him, so that helps.

However, there's still the issue of us not needing in any way shape or form to have Peterson, Ike, Daniels all on AR at the same time.  1 RB, 1 FB/RB, 1 FB/TE.  You'd be hard pressed to create a set that has Ike & Daniels on field at the same time, and their strengths overlap.  UNLESS you're thinking Daniels would be like a Shay -- ST-only in year 1.  BUT then Daniels must prove he's better than X at ST!

Tricky stuff.