Football

Bomber Report

Bombers not tipping their hand on starting quarterback

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Yesterday at 7:54 PM EST

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are going to keep the Montreal Alouettes guessing for as long as possible.

The Blue and Gold aren’t offering any clues about who will be under centre in Saturday’s East Division final at Percival Molson Stadium (3 p.m. kickoff).

The Bombers practised in an official capacity on Wednesday — their first since a stunning 25-22 win over Toronto in the East Division semifinal on the weekend.

They typically start the week with an open session, but the practice was closed to the general public and media.

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Bomber Report

Bombers’ Broxton named league’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Bombers’ Broxton named league’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Yesterday at 6:02 PM EST

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers got what they paid for in Jarell Broxton.

The club made the 33-year-old from Maryland the CFL’s highest-paid American offensive lineman in free agency, and he has proven to be worth every penny.

That was emphasized Wednesday when Broxton was announced as the league’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.

“Man, it’s a blessing,” Broxton told reporters.

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Yesterday at 6:02 PM EST

Bomber Report

Bombers look to avenge past playoff losses to Argos

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Bombers look to avenge past playoff losses to Argos

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers should see blue and white confetti in their nightmares.

Despite being favourites on both occasions, the Bombers lost the 2022 and 2024 Grey Cup games to the Toronto Argonauts — not that anyone around these parts needs a reminder.

While they’ll never be able to rewrite history, the Bombers can at least get a taste of revenge Saturday when the rivalry adds another chapter with the two sides battling in the Eastern semifinal at BMO Field.

That’s got to add some fuel to the fire, no?

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Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026

Bomber Report

Dru Brown leads Bombers in first post-season practice

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

Dru Brown leads Bombers in first post-season practice

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026

History continues to repeat itself for Zach Collaros.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback suffered yet another setback over the weekend and there’s a strong possibility he will miss Saturday’s Eastern semifinal against the Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field.

The 38-year-old, who is listed on the injury report with a rib injury, watched Tuesday’s practice in street clothes as backup pivot Dru Brown worked with the starters.

Collaros was driven into the turf by B.C. Lions defensive lineman Nathan Cherry late in the third quarter of last Friday’s regular-season finale in Vancouver.

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Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026

Bomber Report

Bombers top B.C. Lions 34-10 to earn playoff spot

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Bombers top B.C. Lions 34-10 to earn playoff spot

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

Dru Brown saved the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ season.

They were a trainwreck for the opening 40-plus minutes in Vancouver on Friday night before Brown provided the ultimate spark, accounting for 31 consecutive points in a 34-10 victory over the B.C. Lions to clinch a playoff berth.

The Lions — who had nothing to play for and rested a long list of key starters — somehow led 10-3 late in the third quarter when Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros was forced to leave the game. Lions defensive tackle Nathan Cherry was flagged for roughing the passer after driving Collaros into the turf, and the 38-year-old pivot was ruled out shortly thereafter.

And then Brown’s brilliance began.

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Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026

Bomber Report

The best of the best in Blue and Gold

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

The best of the best in Blue and Gold

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026

No one would use the word “outstanding” to describe this year’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Their inconsistent ways have them on the ropes heading into the regular-season finale in Vancouver. The Bombers (8-9) must beat the B.C. Lions (10-7) on Friday to advance to the playoffs.

Nevertheless, it’s an annual tradition across the three-down loop for each team to have nominees for the CFL Most Outstanding Player Awards.

And while the Bombers have not lived up to expectations through 17 games, there are a few players who have shined through the ups and downs of the 2026 campaign.

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Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026

Bomber Report

Bombers look to write one more post-season chapter with veteran core

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Preview

Bombers look to write one more post-season chapter with veteran core

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are inching towards the end of an era.

There’s no guarantee their veteran core — names like Zach Collaros, Stanley Bryant, Patrick Neufeld and Willie Jefferson — will be back next year, or even if they’ll want to continue playing.

They’re all in their mid-to-late 30s, or in Bryant’s case, 40, and in the final year of their contracts. If the Bombers can’t save their season, significant changes could be coming, and getting younger would likely be part of the plan.

That adds another layer of importance to Friday’s regular-season finale in Vancouver. The Bombers (8-9) need to beat the B.C. Lions (10-7) to make the playoffs and write at least one more chapter with this group.

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Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026

Bomber Report

Playoff run for Bombers would mean longer stretch away for some

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

Playoff run for Bombers would mean longer stretch away for some

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026

Making it in professional football is a dream come true.

Imagine starting your workday by running out of a tunnel and onto a field while thousands of people cheer you on.

You don’t experience anything remotely close to that while chained to a desk from 9 to 5.

“Like this is my job? It’s crazy,” said Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker Sergio Castillo after Tuesday’s practice.

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Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026

Bomber Report

Blue and Gold must win regular-season finale to punch post-season ticket

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

Blue and Gold must win regular-season finale to punch post-season ticket

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Monday, Oct. 19, 2026

It’s now or never for the 2026 edition of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

For weeks, if not months, they’ve been talking about what they need to do to become a consistently good football team.

We’ve heard endless clichés — things like, “We just gotta look ourselves in the mirror” and “We just have to execute better” — but time and time again, nothing has changed. Now, the clock is about to hit zero, and they find themselves at serious risk of watching the playoffs from the couch.

“I didn’t think, obviously, we’d be in a situation like this,” admitted quarterback Zach Collaros after Monday’s practice at Fort Garry Lions Field. “But we are.”

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Monday, Oct. 19, 2026

Bomber Report

Former Bisons quarterback valued by Elks

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Former Bisons quarterback valued by Elks

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026

EDMONTON — Des Catellier may have been a young quarterback for the Manitoba Bisons, but Cody Fajardo saw the makings of a future coach.

It was 2019, when Fajardo was with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Catellier attended training camp with the team as part of the CFL QB Internship Program.

“He was one of the only U Sports guys that really came in and knew the whole playbook,” Fajardo, now the starting pivot for the Edmonton Elks, told the Free Press on Thursday.

“He could go in and rep just about any play on offence.”

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Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026

Bomber Report

Bombers still control post-season destiny

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

Bombers still control post-season destiny

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Jake Ceresna was confident he was putting pen to paper with a Grey Cup contender.

When the star defensive tackle signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in free agency back in February, did he foresee any scenario in which they’d be under .500 at this point in the season and in danger of missing the playoffs?

“That’s a good question,” Ceresna admitted after Wednesday’s closed practice.

“Obviously, at the beginning of the year, you think you’re gonna go 18-0. But the reality of life is there’s roller-coasters. There’s going to be hard times, there’s going to be good times. We’re in the valley right now and we just have to come out of it and get back to the peak.”

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Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Bomber Report

Zach is back

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Preview

Zach is back

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

You can knock Zach Collaros down, but he’s going to get back up.

The starting quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was a full participant at Thursday’s practice — a first since suffering a head injury in the Banjo Bowl.

The 38-year-old will be under centre when the Blue and Gold (7-8) host the Calgary Stampeders (8-8) on Saturday.

Considering his well-documented history of injuries above the shoulders, there’s been a lot of speculation on the outside about whether Collaros would — or should — return this season.

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Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Bomber Report

Longtime voice of the Blue and Gold marks major milestone

David Sanderson 8 minute read Preview

Longtime voice of the Blue and Gold marks major milestone

David Sanderson 8 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Bob McGregor made his debut as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ public-address announcer on June 7, 1997, during a pre-season game at Winnipeg Stadium between the hometown Blue Bombers and their western rivals, the Calgary Stampeders.

McGregor will be behind the microphone again this Saturday, detailing the action on the field in addition to leading a boisterous Princess Auto Stadium crowd through what has become his signature call, “And that is another Winnipeg Blue Bombers first down!” The Bombers’ final home date of the 2026 regular season will mark a major milestone for McGregor, and the former newscaster feels it’s only fitting the same two teams as 10,717 days ago — the Bombers and Stampeders — will be the ones butting helmets.

“I knew at the start of the season I was closing in on 300 games as the PA guy, only it wasn’t until I went through the schedule that I realized my 300th would be Winnipeg-Calgary, which struck me as kind of cool,” McGregor says, seated in a St. James breakfast nook, dressed in dark trousers and a blue-and-gold Blue Bombers golf shirt.

“I don’t remember much about that ‘97 game, it all seemed to happen so fast,” he says of what turned out to be a 24-20 Bombers loss in front of 23,438 fans. “But since 300 games doesn’t come along every day, I promise to do my best to remember this one.”

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Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

NFL

With confident Penix at QB, Falcons will look to continue turnaround against Ravens

Charles Odumf, The Associated Press 5 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons will be looking to build upon their dramatic turnaround since Michael Penix Jr. took over at quarterback when they play the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.

After scoring a combined 16 points while opening the season with two losses, the Falcons (2-2) have scored a combined 80 points with Penix back as the starter.

Bijan Robinson remains the star of the offense as one of the NFL's leading rushers. Penix has completed 73.3% of his passes in his return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that ended his 2025 season. Penix's accuracy has been impressive and he has thrown only one interception while passing for two touchdowns.

The efficient play from Penix has seemed to boost the production from Robinson, who ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-24 win at New Orleans on Monday night. Brian Robinson Jr. ran for three touchdowns.

NFL

Jets’ offense will be without Breece Hall, Adonai Mitchell and Dylan Parham vs. Browns

Dennis Waszak Jr., The Associated Press 4 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets ruled out running back Breece Hall, wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and left guard Dylan Parham on Friday for their game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Coach Aaron Glenn said he likes “exactly where they're trending” in their recovery from injuries, but the Jets will be without three offensive starters as they try to snap a three-game skid.

Hall missed last week's loss at Chicago with a quadriceps injury that occurred the week before at Detroit. It'll also be the second game in a row that Parham will be sidelined after he hurt a knee against the Lions.

Mitchell will miss a third straight game after injuring a finger during practice. Glenn has been evasive about the nature of the injury, which he said happened when Mitchell caught a finger in a jersey. But the coach initially didn't seem to think it would be serious after it happened two weeks ago.

NFL

Mike Ditka tributes pour in from former President Obama, Chicago’s sports teams and around the NFL

The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

Mike Ditka tributes pour in from former President Obama, Chicago’s sports teams and around the NFL

The Associated Press 7 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Mike Ditka was “Iron Mike” as a player who revolutionized the tight end position and later became the easily recognizable and often imitated fiery, mustached and sweater vest-wearing “Da Coach” of the Chicago Bears during a Super Bowl-winning tenure.

Ditka died Friday at 86, his family announced in a statement.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer was remembered by the sports world and beyond for his impact on the game as both a player and a coach, and later as a TV analyst.

Here are some notable reactions to Ditka's death and tributes to his legacy:

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Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

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