Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
Veteran linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox is not expected to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2026 after suffering a season-ending injury, in-house reporter Ed Tait reported on Monday.
The six-foot-one, 233-pound defender suffered a non-contact injury on the first day of training camp and had to be helped off the field by members of the medical staff, 3DownNation reported at the time. He had not seen the field since.
The 31-year-old signed with the Blue Bombers as a free agent in February. He spent the last three seasons with the Ottawa Redblacks, recording 209 total tackles, five quarterback sacks, and two interceptions over 42 regular-season games. In 2025, he was the team’s nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
Santos-Knox started his CFL career with the Blue Bombers in 2017 and spent two years with the team, recording 136 defensive tackles, 20 special teams tackles, eight sacks, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions over 34 regular-season games.
The native of Waterbury, Conn. signed with the Edmonton Elks as a free agent in 2019 but played only four regular-season games due to a foot injury. He opted out of his CFL contract amid the COVID-19 pandemic and signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2021, earning an All-East Division selection with the team in 2022.
In total, Santos-Knox has played 111 career regular-season CFL games and made 549 total tackles, 16 quarterback sacks, five interceptions, and four forced fumbles.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers opened training camp on May 10. Winnipeg will play its first preseason game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, May 23 and second preseason game against the B.C. Lions on Friday, May 29. Final roster cuts are due on Saturday, May 30, after which the team will play its first regular-season game against the Calgary Stampeders on Friday, June 5.
Winnipeg recently selected Wake Forest defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth with their first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, adding to the club’s pass rush. The team’s other major offseason additions include receiver Tim White, offensive lineman Jarell Broxton, and defensive lineman Jake Ceresna.
In 2025, the Blue Bombers finished fourth in the West Division standings with a 10-8 record, qualifying for the playoffs as the crossover team before losing the East Semi-Final to the Montreal Alouettes.
