Official Game Day Thread - Winnipeg @ Edmonton, October 16, 2026

[Blue In BC]

48 Hour Primer - Demski: "It's an electrifying receiving corps"

https://bluebombers.com/article/48-hour-primer-blue-bombers-at-elks

WEEK 20: WEST PLAYOFF PICTURE COMES INTO FOCUS
113TH Grey Cup playoff scenarios for the upcoming week

EDM WIN OR BC LOSS = EDM claims first place and the right to host the Western Final on Saturday, November 7.
WPG WIN OR CGY LOSS = WPG clinches playoff berth.
WPG LOSS + SSK WIN = SSK clinches playoff berth.
SSK WIN + CGY LOSS = SSK clinches playoff berth.
WPG LOSS OR BC WIN = BC clinches the right to host a playoff game.
Note: SSK and CGY do not have a path forward to host a playoff game.

https://press.cfl.ca/week-20-west-playoff-picture-comes-into-focus


Depth chart is up. Novak is in and Smith is moved to 1 game IR. Everybody else stays on the roster. Players can't be moved to 6 game IR after game 15. So not sure about the severity of his new injury.

[Tecno]

Does griffin taking over screw the ratio? Does this force the Eli start? Or are we still good on that front?

Keep in mind we're already down a NAT because of singer.

Now I'm starting to wonder how much of the Eli move was to ward off ratio woes vs straight up winning the spot.

[Blue In BC]

Does griffin taking over screw the ratio? Does this force the Eli start? Or are we still good on that front?

Keep in mind we're already down a NAT because of singer.

Now I'm starting to wonder how much of the Eli move was to ward off ratio woes vs straight up winning the spot.

No I don't think so. If we start ELI, then we have 6 Canadians on offence and 2 on defence.

[Mick]

Depth chart is up. Novak is in and Smith is moved to 1 game IR. Everybody else stays on the roster. Players can't be moved to 6 game IR after game 15. So not sure about the severity of his new injury.

Roster looks good, if they can play like they did last week we have a real shot at getting this win.

[Blue In BC]

Roster looks good, if they can play like they did last week we have a real shot at getting this win.

We can't wait until the 2nd Q to show up on defence. Starting the game with 3 minutes TOP in the 1st Q was not good. The TOP for game was only 23 minutes which is also not good.

If not for Vaval return TD we may have lost that game.

[gobombersgo]

Ed Tait  @EdTaitWFC

Just one change for the @Wpg_BlueBombers this week with LB Lane Novak in for Jaylen Smith, who moves to one-game injured list. Michael GriffinII will start

Derek Taylor🏈  @DTonOB

Just the one change for the Bombers as DB Jaylen Smith goes to the 1-game injured list.

Dorian Singer starts despite missing both practice days with illness.

[gobombersgo]

[gobombersgo]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers swap one starter against Edmonton Elks
by John Hodge  October 15, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have made one change to their starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Edmonton Elks. The team issued its official depth chart on Thursday morning.

Canadian defensive back Jaylen Smith has been moved to the one-game injured list due to a hip injury he suffered last week against Calgary. He did not practice this week and was listed on the team's final injury report as questionable.

The native of Hamilton, Ont. has made seven starts at strong-side linebacker this season, recording 46 total tackles. The 24-year-old was originally a second-round pick in the 2025 CFL Draft out of the University of North Texas.

Smith will be replaced in the starting lineup by Michael Griffin II, who has registered nine previous starts at strong-side linebacker this year.

The veteran defender has made 39 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, one sack, and one forced fumble this season, his third in Winnipeg. Over 51 career regular-season CFL games, he has tallied 139 defensive tackles, 31 special teams tackles, four sacks, four pass knockdowns, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery as a member of the Blue Bombers and Stampeders.

Smith's roster spot has gone to Canadian linebacker Lane Novak, who was promoted from the practice roster. The native of Balgonie, Sask. has played 10 regular-season games since being taken in the fifth round of the 2025 CFL Draft, recording four special teams tackles.

Winnipeg can officially clinch a playoff spot with a win this week, though they're 0-2 against Edmonton on the season. The 23-18 loss in Week 4 occurred when the Blue Bombers fumbled four times in the first half at Princess Auto Stadium, while the 22-19 loss in Week 12 came despite a 118-yard performance from Brady Oliveira at Commonwealth Stadium.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-8) will visit the Edmonton Elks (12-4) on Friday, October 16 with kickoff scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET. The Blue Bombers got a key win over the Calgary Stampeders last week, while the Elks completed their sweep of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on 680 CJOB in Winnipeg or 880 CHED in Edmonton.

https://3downnation.com/2026/10/15/winnipeg-blue-bombers-swap-one-starter-against-edmonton-elks/

[dd]

Collaros was on fire last game vaval had Td return chances of that happening again are slim plus singer is out!?!

[gobombersgo]

[Blue In BC]

Collaros was on fire last game vaval had Td return chances of that happening again are slim plus singer is out!?!

Singer is not out, he's playing. How well he's feeling after an illness ( cold or flu ? ) may impact how effective his game might be.

[Blue In BC]

The narrow scope game plan needs to have success with Brady. He should get the ball 15-20 times. If that is happening then he's having success which has many benefits. It helps control TOP, field position and sustain drives. It also forces the LB's into the box which opens up the passing game and slows down the rush.

Obviously we'd like to have similar success passing like last week. However, 2 of Brady's best games came against the Elks. We know that and they know that.

Which team has the better day with the output in that area?

It's not new or any secret. Can we win that LOS on offence.

[gobombersgo]

Edmonton Elks rule out David Beard against Winnipeg Blue Bombers
by 3Down Staff. October 15, 2026

The Edmonton Elks will officially be without offensive lineman David Beard when they host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday night. The team issued its official depth chart on Thursday.

The 33-year-old did not practice this week due to an injury to his ribs, and has been placed on the one-game injured list. He has made 12 starts this season at centre.

The native of Sherwood Park, Alta. has played 164 career regular-season games as a member of the Elks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was named All-CFL in 2024 and won a Grey Cup as a rookie with Edmonton in 2015.

Mark Korte will start in Beard's place, as he did for the four previous games Beard missed earlier this season.

Noah Curtis and Tomari Fox have been activated from the reserve roster to beef up Edmonton's defensive line. Curtis has recorded four defensive tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, and one pass knockdown this season, while Fox has made eight defensive tackles and one sack.

Isaiah Knight and Tyron Vrede have also been promoted from the practice roster.

Defensive lineman Silas Hubert (ankle) and linebacker DK Bonhomme (knee) have both been moved to the one-game injured list, while Gavin Meyer has been placed on the reserve roster.

The Edmonton Elks (12-4) will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-8) on Friday, October 16 with kickoff scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET. The Blue Bombers got a key win over the Calgary Stampeders last week, while the Elks completed their sweep of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on 680 CJOB in Winnipeg or 880 CHED in Edmonton.

https://3downnation.com/2026/10/15/edmonton-elks-rule-out-david-beard-against-winnipeg-blue-bombers/

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Does griffin taking over screw the ratio? Does this force the Eli start? Or are we still good on that front?

Keep in mind we're already down a NAT because of singer.

Now I'm starting to wonder how much of the Eli move was to ward off ratio woes vs straight up winning the spot.

Hard to say but it certainly could be related to starting Singer and now losing Smith, one more starting Natl. goes down and like it or not they're back to playing 3 Natl. receivers, cause Cobb is the next closest thing they have. No next man up for Natl's, the next starter is not biding his time on ST's or PR, he's not even on the roster yet. They've dropped the ball developing Natl. talent and now they're facing a crisis.

[Pigskin]

8 LBs for the Bombers 3 Americans, 5 Canadians. 3 Americans, 168 DTs. The 5 Canadians 2 DTs. Losing Smith and Ayres from the teams. 29 STs.