Photo courtesy: Winnipeg Blue Bombers/CFL
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are set to open training camp on Sunday as the club starts a fresh attempt to get back to the Grey Cup after falling well short in 2025.
The team used free agency to reload after a disappointing campaign, adding three-time All-CFL receiver Tim White, emerging Canadian target Tommy Nield, reigning All-CFL offensive tackle Jarell Broxton, two-time All-CFL defensive tackle Jake Ceresna, and reliable cornerback Jonathan Moxey.
With so many incumbent starters and high-priced additions on the roster, there aren’t many spots up for grabs. Below, we’ve identified five positions at which jobs appear to be open for the taking.
No. 2 quarterback
All eyes will be on the backup quarterbacks throughout training camp as Chris Streveler, last season’s No. 2, retired this offseason after suffering a second ACL tear.
Terry Wilson will enter training camp as the only backup quarterback with CFL experience, having spent the last two seasons in Winnipeg. With that said, the 28-year-old hasn’t seen much meaningful action, making zero starts and completing 12-of-22 pass attempts for 79 yards and one interception over 36 regular-season games.
The three newcomers — Bryce Perkins, Payton Thorne, and Taylor Elgersma — all seem like potential long-term heirs apparent to Zach Collaros.
Perkins has by far the most professional experience, having won the UFL’s MVP award in 2025. He completed 69.0 percent of his passes with the Michigan Panthers for 1,342 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions that year, and rushed for 269 yards and five scores.
The 29-year-old spent three previous seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, making one regular-season start and winning Super Bowl LVI. He also has ties to the CFL through Streveler, with whom he’s trained in Arizona, and his father, Bruce, who played fullback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and was once a teammate of Mike O’Shea.
Thorne went 26-22 over 48 collegiate starts at Michigan State and Auburn, completing 61.4 percent of his passes for 10,961 yards, 86 touchdowns, and 43 interceptions. The six-foot-two, 207-pound passer also has dual-threat ability, having rushed for 1,068 yards and 11 scores.
The 24-year-old native of Naperville, Ill. was coached at Auburn by Grey Cup-winning quarterback and head coach Kent Austin, who helped sell him on the Canadian game. He attended training camp with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent last year, completing four-of-seven passes for 41 yards during the preseason.
Elgersma signed with the Blue Bombers last month after stints with the Green Bay Packers and Birmingham Stallions. The former Hec Crighton Trophy winner isn’t your average Canadian quarterback prospect — he has a cannon for an arm and has already attended five training camps, despite having yet to dress for a professional regular-season game.
The six-foot-five, 232-pound native of London, Ont. threw for 10,306 yards, 77 touchdowns, and 32 interceptions over four collegiate seasons at Wilfrid Laurier University. His previous experience in the three-down game could also be an important asset as he works to learn the playbook as quickly as possible.
Collaros, who will turn 38 in August, missed five regular-season games last year — three to injury, one to suspension, and one to late-season rest. The three-time Grey Cup champion and two-time CFL MOP said in February that the 2026 season could be his last, making it all the more important for Winnipeg to find its next franchise quarterback.
Photo: Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Left guard
After the team’s offensive line regressed last season, the Blue Bombers made it clear they’re going to start their five best offensive linemen regardless of passport. Stanley Bryant and Jarell Broxton are locks to start at offensive tackle, and it seems safe to project 14-year veteran Patrick Neufeld as the starter at right guard.
The other two spots are far more unclear. Tui Eli will likely start at centre following the release of Chris Kolankowski. With that said, American blockers Tyler Elsbury and Bucky Williams have experience at the position, as does third-round 2025 CFL Draft pick Ethan Vibert.
Where things get messy is left guard. Gabe Wallace and Micah Vanterpool were the two players to start there last year, both of whom remain with the team. Kendall Randolph, who started at right tackle last season but will have to move inside following the addition of Broxton, should also compete for the job.
The club brought in a few newcomers with guard experience, including Micah Mazzccua and Sebastian Pares. Mazzccua was a collegiate standout at Baylor University, while Pares was named second-team All-Conference at Eastern Illinois University in 2023.
The B.C. Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders had success starting up to four American offensive linemen in 2025, and it seems like the Blue Bombers could be following suit.
Defensive end
Winnipeg didn’t retain James Vaughters in free agency, even though he led the team with six sacks last year. No other player had more than three.
The edge spot opposite Willie Jefferson is wide open, as he’s the only defensive end on the roster to previously start a CFL game. Matt Jaworski, who started last season’s regular-season finale, may have had the inside track to winning the starting job, though he was moved to the retired list last week.
Kydran Jenkins, who was named All-Big Ten at Purdue, recorded a sack in one regular-season appearance last year, which may give him a leg up on the competition. O’Shea also mentioned De’Shaan Dixon during his media availability on Wednesday, reminding everyone that he spent time on the practice roster in 2025.
The team signed three defensive ends last week in Eric Black, Antoineo Harris, and David Reese. Black has had CFL stints with the Edmonton Elks, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Ottawa Redblacks, though he’s never started a game. Reese, who made 13.5 sacks over 58 games collegiate games at Florida, California, and Syracuse, might be the most intriguing prospect of the bunch.
There’s also Nuer Gatkuoth, Winnipeg’s first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft. The Edmonton native remains unsigned as he’s set to attend rookie mini-camp with the Denver Broncos, though he’s expected to join the Blue Bombers immediately if he’s not offered an NFL contract. The six-foot-three, 239-pound defender made 39 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, and one forced fumble over 12 games at Wake Forest University in 2025.
Photo: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
Linebacker
Winnipeg’s two incumbent starters at linebacker, Kyrie Wilson and Tony Jones, remain on the roster, though the team added Jovan Santos-Knox following his release from Ottawa. The 31-year-old played for the Blue Bombers in 2017 and 2018, and was named All-East Division with the Tiger-Cats in 2022.
It wouldn’t be impossible for the team to keep all three players, since none are on particularly expensive contracts. Defensive coordinator Jordan Younger likes to rotate players through various personnel packages, though it remains true that only two of the veterans can be in the starting lineup, should all three make the final roster.
Connor Shay and Jaylen Smith, the team’s two top draft picks from last year, are returning to the lineup, while Michael Ayers is arguably ready for an expanded role on defence after recording 40 special teams tackles over the last two seasons.
The Blue Bombers have several other linebackers slated to come to training camp, including Micah Cretsinger, Johnny Hodges, Mike Smith Jr., Aaron Smith, Ja’Kobe Clinton. Hodges seems like a name to watch, as he was named the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and a second-team All-Conference at Texas Christian University.
Cornerback
Jonathan Moxey is a lock to start at one of two cornerback spots after signing a two-year contract in free agency, though the other spot seems wide open.
Trey Vaval looked comfortable in four starts in 2025, notching 21 defensive tackles and one interception, though he should arguably be left to focus on his duties as a return specialist. The 25-year-old scored a CFL-best four return touchdowns last year to be named the league’s Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
There are a few CFL veterans who are expected to compete for the job, including Alijah McGhee, Deandre Lamont, and Robert Javier. McGhee and Lamont made a combined 17 starts for the Redblacks in 2025, while Javier spent parts of 2024 and 2025 in Saskatchewan.
Jordan Taylor seems like a name to watch, as he hails from Tusculum University — the same program that produced DeAundre Alford, who was named All-CFL with the Blue Bombers in 2021 before departing for the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons
Other newcomers who could be in the mix at cornerback include Shyheim Battle, Warren Burrell, Javaris Davis, Michael Dixon, Matthew Jackson, Cameron McCutcheon, Ridge Texada, and Major Williams.
