Football – Winnipeg Free Press

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Nic Demski will suit up for the club’s tilt against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday. Demski is four yards away from hitting his third straight 1000-yard campaign.

Papa Demski to suit up against Elks

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

EDMONTON — Nic Demski better sleep like a baby on this road trip.

Now with a newborn son at home, catching ZZZs will be even harder than catching TDs for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver.

Demski and his fiancée Vanessa welcomed baby Cade into the world Wednesday night.

“This week was a whirlwhind,” said Demski, who didn’t practice with the team all week.

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Vaughters’ style always in fashion

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Vaughters’ style always in fashion

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

No one has ever mistaken the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ locker room for a fashion runway.

If anything, it’s the type of place where the fashion police would hand out citations left, right and centre to players for wearing flip flops, baggy gym shorts and compression shirts with the sleeves chopped off.

“We wear sweats to the game and we wear sweats when we travel. Everything’s actually really laid back here, which I think I kinda appreciate,” said first-year Bombers defensive end James Vaughters after Wednesday’s closed practice.

“It’s gotten so big in the NFL with the tunnel fits and travel fits and everything. I was into it, but being at the point of my career where I’m at, I just want to win and play well. I appreciate the focus that they have here.”

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Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

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Bombers’ DE James Vaughters (centre) puts pressure on the Argos QB Nick Arbuckle.

Standings climb starts in Edmonton

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Standings climb starts in Edmonton

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers kept busy in different ways during their recent bye week.

Some took the opportunity to head home, while others stayed in town to get in some extra work and bond with teammates.

One thing they didn’t do, however, was stress over the playoff picture and all the uncertainty surrounding it.

“You start doing that you’ll get lost in it. There are too many scenarios,” said offensive co-ordinator Jason Hogan after Tuesday’s practice, their second day back from their final break.

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Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira (20) said the club is embracing the underdog role this season after hosting the Western final the last four post-seasons.

Playoff implications top of mind in Bombers-Ticats clash

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Playoff implications top of mind in Bombers-Ticats clash

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Friday, Sep. 26, 2025

As the temperature dips (albeit, slightly around these parts) and leaves begin to change, one thing becomes paramount in the CFL: it’s time to start playing your best football.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-7) will try to do so on Saturday afternoon when they host the best the East Division has to offer in the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (9-5) at 2 p.m. CT.

To get you ready for kickoff, here’s the latest edition of 5 Storylines.

ZACH IS BACK

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Friday, Sep. 26, 2025

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros (8) is back as the club’s starting pivot after suffering a hit to the head during the Banjo Bowl.

Bombers shocked by lack of consultation on rule changes, hope ‘uniqueness’ remains

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Bombers shocked by lack of consultation on rule changes, hope ‘uniqueness’ remains

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2025

So, what does Brady Oliveira — a Winnipegger and one of the faces of the CFL — think about the leagues newly announced rule changes?

“I am a very passionate Canadian and grew up watching this amazing league,” said Oliveira after Wednesday’s closed practice. “I just want this league to continue to grow. And if that’s what they think is going to happen by making these decisions, then, I’m on board.”

The Blue Bombers running back is putting his trust in commissioner Stewart Johnston and the board of governors. While he didn’t see this coming, he’s willing to give it a few years to see how it all unfolds.

“They think it’s going to be a more entertaining and exciting game, even though I think it already is a very entertaining game,” said Oliveira.

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Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2025

John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive lineman Willie Jefferson fully believes the league was in the wrong for not consulting with players first.

Bombers’ roaring rookies Allen, Vaval making waves

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Bombers’ roaring rookies Allen, Vaval making waves

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2025

Trey Vaval had a feeling that fellow Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie Cam Allen was going to have a big day in Ottawa.

“It was actually crazy,” said Vaval after Wednesday’s closed practice.

“We were on the bus headed to the game and I was like, ‘Cam’s gonna have two picks today.’ And it happened.”

It sure did.

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Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2025

Spencer Colby / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie Trey Vaval makes Ottawa Redblacks linebacker Jayden Griffiths miss last Saturday in the nation’s capital.

Bombers QB says decisions about his health and future are his to make

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Bombers QB says decisions about his health and future are his to make

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 23, 2025

Zach Collaros appreciates the concern surrounding his latest head injury but wants it to be clear: his health is his business.

The star quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers practised in full on Tuesday for the first time since suffering a hit to the head more than two weeks ago in the Banjo Bowl.

It’s a cause for concern any time a play leaves a player laying motionless on the turf for a while before they get up and jog off — which was the case for Collaros — but the veteran passer’s well-documented history of head injuries made it that much more unsettling.

“If you’re somebody who’s followed the game for a long time and you know who I am specifically and you’ve seen me have to come out of games at times throughout my career, from a knee-jerk reaction standpoint, I can totally understand people’s concern with that,” said Collaros after practice.

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Tuesday, Sep. 23, 2025

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
Bombers QB Zach Collaros (right) hands the ball off to Nic Demski on Tuesday during practice at Princess Auto Stadium.

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CFL changes beyond tone deaf

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CFL changes beyond tone deaf

Grace Anne Paizen 4 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 23, 2025

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in the nation’s capital, Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Trey Vaval ran a franchise-setting 128-yard missed field goal off the foot of Ottawa Redblacks kicker Lewis Ward to the house.

As the season enters its homestretch, this may be one of the last ‘exciting’ major plays in the Canadian Football League — no matter what the league’s commissioner claimed Monday in the declared revamp to Americanize the Canadian pastime — as the league will fundamentally change after the final whistle of the 112th Grey Cup on Nov. 16 if the redesigns are implemented.

The 35-second clock will likely eliminate the ‘anything can happen’ dying minutes of game play and the commissioner cannot guarantee touchdowns will increase by 10 per cent next season — that is subjectively dependent on the on-field product any given year.

The announcement of these changes raises the question of if the commissioner has any idea what the actual state of the league is at the moment to justify these changes for more on-field ‘entertainment’? Because if he did, he’d know the standings at the moment could hardly be any more exciting.

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Tuesday, Sep. 23, 2025

Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Trey Vaval (23) runs with the ball during first half CFL action against the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal during the Aug. 21 game. (Christopher Katsarov / The Canadian Press files)

Bombers confident backup QB has what it takes at the helm

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Bombers confident backup QB has what it takes at the helm

Jeff Hamilton 6 minute read Friday, Sep. 19, 2025

OTTAWA — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are facing a seemingly must-win situation and, for the second consecutive week, the task of righting the ship falls to quarterback Chris Streveler.

With starter Zach Collaros ruled out for a second straight game due to a head injury, Streveler is once again at the helm as the Bombers look to snap a three-game losing streak and regain their footing in the tight West Division playoff race.

The Bombers, currently sitting at 6-7, are in a precarious position. The team that has been a model of consistency and winning for the past few years is suddenly staring at the possibility of missing the playoffs entirely.

The feeling in the locker room is palpable: Saturday’s game at TD Place is one they need to have, especially facing an Ottawa Redblacks club that is 4-9 and last place in the East Division.

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Friday, Sep. 19, 2025

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
As Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros (centre) recovers from a head injury, the Blue and Gold have entrusted backup Chris Streveler (right) as starter. Questions have been asked when third-stringer Terry Wilson (left) will get a crack at pivot.

Battle of the understudies in the nation’s capital

Jeff Hamilton 7 minute read Preview

Battle of the understudies in the nation’s capital

Jeff Hamilton 7 minute read Friday, Sep. 19, 2025

OTTAWA — With only a handful of games remaining in the regular season, both the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Ottawa Redblacks are feeling the pressure.

The Bombers are clinging to the third and final playoff spot in the West Division. At 6-7, they’re tied with the B.C. Lions — but own the season-series tiebreaker — and are just two points up on the Edmonton Elks for that final playoff berth.

If that sounds challenging, things are even worse in the nation’s capital.

The Redblacks are in full-on desperation mode, stuck in last place in the East Division with a 4-9 record. If Ottawa has any chance at a playoff spot, it’ll have to go on a serious run and hope some other teams trip up.

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Friday, Sep. 19, 2025

John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Blue Bombers backup quarterback Chris Streveler (right) gets the start against the Ottawa Redblacks returning starting pivot — and former fellow Zach Collaros understudy — Dru Brown in the national’s capital Saturday.

Wilson knocking on wood

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Wilson knocking on wood

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025

When speaking with Kyrie Wilson about his season, he may interupt you to do something important.

“Hold on,” he said after Thursday’s closed practice. “Let me knock on some wood.”

It’s hard to blame the Blue Bombers linebacker as it’s been a long time since he’s played this many games without being hit with an injury.

Since capping off the 2021 Grey Cup with the winning interception in overtime, it’s been mostly heartbreak for Wilson. He started 2022 red-hot before tearing his Achilles in Week 4. The injury went on to limit him to 10 games in 2023.

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Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025

Peter Power / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Bombers linebacker Kyrie Wilson (right) tracks down Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.

Brown’s injuries have taught pivot invaluable patience

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Brown’s injuries have taught pivot invaluable patience

Jeff Hamilton 8 minute read Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025

OTTAWA — When Dru Brown was a young and eager quarterback with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, he spent three seasons in the quiet shadow of a growing legend. His time as the understudy to Zach Collaros was a masterclass in patience, preparation and waiting for your moment.

Now, a season and a half into his career as the starting quarterback for the Ottawa Redblacks, Brown has learned the brutal price of that opportunity. The lessons he learned in Winnipeg — staying disciplined in your process, a relentless focus on the day-to-day, to name a couple — are being tested in ways he never envisioned when taking over the role in the nation’s capital.

“There has just been a lack of consistency, just kind of across the board, starting with me,” Brown, 28, said in an interview with the Free Press following Thursday’s practice. “It’s always hard when you feel like you’re trending and then you get something like an injury, which is something that’s been frustrating to deal with because I’ve never really gotten hurt until I came here.”

He added: “There were a lot of things along my career, up to this point, that still happened but I was prepared mentally for them, the challenges that it brings. But when you’ve never really been hurt and you’re missing bits and pieces of time, it’s very frustrating because it’s nothing really you can control.”

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Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025

John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Redblacks quarterback Dru Brown (3) is looking forward to facing his former team Saturday when Ottawa clashes with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The pivot said Thursday that he learned invaluable experience playing backup to Bombers QB Zach Collaros.

Playoffs? Bombers will battle to bitter end to make it

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Playoffs? Bombers will battle to bitter end to make it

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025

Here’s a sentence that hasn’t been written in a long time: the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are going to have to fight to the very end to make the playoffs.

The Blue and Gold dropped to 6-7 on the year after a discouraging 32-21 loss in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats on Friday.

They’re still holding onto the third and final postseason berth out of the West as they won the season series over the B.C. Lions who are also 6-7, but make no mistake about it: it’s going to come down to the wire.

“As long as we can find our groove and get rolling these next couple games, we’ll let the standings fall how they fall,” said defensive end Willie Jefferson.

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Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025

PETER POWER / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Blue Bombers attempt an on-side kick late in the fourth quarter of CFL football game action against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Hamilton, Ont. on Friday.

First-year OC Hogan asks for patience

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First-year OC Hogan asks for patience

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2025

The offensive co-ordinator can be one of the most criticized roles in all pro sports — especially in a football-crazed market.

The criticism usually comes from the stands, and first-year Blue Bombers OC Jason Hogan has certainly heard an earful from paying customers. But on Tuesday, a subtle shot came from his star running back Brady Oliveira.

“I think maybe us players could be put in some better situations to succeed as well so that it always doesn’t fall on the player,” said Oliveira, when asked for his opinion on the negative reviews surrounding the play of backup quarterback Chris Streveler.

Hogan addressed reporters Wednesday and had no issue with Oliveira’s remark.

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Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2025

Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Files
Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive co-ordinator Jason Hogan (second right) said Wednesday it’s been humbling for him so far this season — even without running back Brady Oliveira’s recent comments (right) — but overall it’s been “an awesome experience.”

Wilson focused on being ready

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Wilson focused on being ready

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2025

Terry Wilson is a popular guy in Winnipeg these days.

“I’ve been hearing, man,” said the third-string quarterback for the Blue Bombers after Tuesday’s practice.

With starter Zach Collaros (head injury) out of action and No. 2 arm Chris Streveler struggling Friday in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats in a 32-21 loss, fans wasted no time taking to social media to say they want to see Wilson in action.

“I mean, it’s outside noise, really. I try to stay away from it,” said Wilson. “It can be a distraction at times, but I’m just trying to stay locked in.”

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Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2025

Heywood Yu / THE CANADIAN PRESS files
At the end of the day, Bombers QB Terry Wilson just wants to win.

Turnover trouble hampering Bombers

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Turnover trouble hampering Bombers

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2025

As Chris Streveler stood and faced the music from a scrum of reporters after Tuesday’s practice, his infant daughter — who was in the arms of his partner just a few feet away — began to wail.

“Sick of talking about turnovers over there, huh?” quipped Streveler, who had been asked several times about giveaways, while looking in her direction.

It’s a topic, however, that cannot be ignored. The issue has consistently plagued the Bombers all season regardless of whether it’s been Streveler or Zach Collaros — who was was dressed on Tuesday but didn’t participate in any team drills as he’s still working his way back from a head injury — under centre.

After falling 32-21 in Hamilton on Friday, the Bombers are now 6-7 overall and 0-6 when losing the turnover battle. Streveler threw a pair of backbreaking interceptions in the first half and Winnipeg never recovered.

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Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2025

October 12, 2025

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