B.C. Lions swap-in six new starters against Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Photo: Steven Chang/B.C. Lions

The B.C. Lions will have six new players in the starting lineup for their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday night. The team issued its official depth on Wednesday.

As reported on Monday, rookie Kaidon Salter will start at quarterback.

The 23-year-old finished his collegiate career at the University of Colorado in 2025, replacing Shedeur Sanders as the team’s starter. He went 3-6, completing 62.3 percent of his passes for 1,414 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 356 yards and five scores.

The six-foot-one, 195-pound passer played in relief of Chase Brice during the fourth quarter of B.C.’s 26-12 loss to the Toronto Argonauts last week. He completed nine-of-fifteen pass attempts for 121 yards, and rushed four times for 12 yards.

Nathan Rourke, the team’s franchise quarterback, remains on the reserve roster. He was a limited participant in practice on Monday due to a shoulder injury, then a non-participant in practice on Tuesday.

B.C.’s three other changes to the starting lineup on offence include Emani Bailey at running back, Anu Una at left guard, and Tyran Walker-Hunt at right tackle.

Bailey helped Texas Christian University reach the National Championship Game in 2022, and was named All-Big 12 in 2023. The five-foot-seven, 202-pound ball-carrier rushed for 1,459 yards, caught 32 passes for 227 yards, and scored 11 touchdowns over 24 games with the Horned Frogs.

The native of Dallas, Texas had stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers prior to joining the Lions this offseason. He will start in place of James Butler, who has been placed on the reserve roster. The veteran ball-carrier was listed as questionable for Thursday’s game due to a foot injury that limited him in practice this week.

Una has taken over at left guard from Brandon Yates, who has been placed on the one-game injured list with a foot injury. Una, who was taken in the first round of the 2024 CFL Draft out of the University of Windsor, started nine regular-season games at right guard in 2025 but was moved to a depth role this year.

Walker-Hunt has replaced Joshua Donovan, who has been moved to the six-game injured list after injuring his knee last week.

Walker-Hunt had a stint with the Lions last year but didn’t see any regular-season action. The six-foot-six, 310-pound blocker has previously been a member of the IFL’s Frisco Fighters and UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas and Memphis Showboats. This will be his first career CFL game.

The Lions also have two new starters on defence, including Colby Taylor at defensive end and Josh Hagerty at safety.

Taylor attended rookie mini-camps with the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs after going unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft. The six-foot-three, 260-pound defender finished his collegiate career at West Florida in 2025, where he made eight tackles, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery over 11 games.

The 25-year-old will start in place of Hayden Harris, who has been moved to a depth role behind Mathieu Betts.

Hagerty will start at safety in place of Jackson Findlay, who has been moved to strong-side linebacker in place of Deontai Williams. Williams remains in the starting lineup, though he will play boundary halfback in place of T.J. Lee III, who has been placed on the one-game injured list due to a thigh injury.

Hagerty made one previous start this year, which came in the team’s 36-24 win over the Edmonton Elks earlier this month. The 28-year-old native of Regina, Sask. has recorded 29 defensive tackles, 34 special teams tackles, and one forced fumble over 62 career regular-season CFL games with the Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Elks, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Lions.

Canadian offensive linemen Andrew Peirson and Alex Berwick have been promoted to the active roster in depth roles. Former CFL award-winner Lorenzo Mauldin IV, who came out of retirement to sign with the Lions this past week, will also dress as a backup.

B.C. has also moved first-round 2026 CFL Draft pick Nate DeMontagnac from the six-game injured list to the disabled list.

The B.C. Lions (1-5) will visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-3) at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday, July 30 with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EDT. The Lions lost a one-sided game to the Toronto Argonauts last week, while the Blue Bombers suffered a blowout defeat to the Calgary Stampeders.

The weather forecast in Winnipeg calls for a high of 30 degrees and a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on 730 CKNW (English) or Sher-E-Punjab Radio AM 600 (Punjabi) in Vancouver or 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.

B.C. Lions

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