Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Matthew Peterson (22) is tackled by Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive lineman Aaron Patrick (91) during the first half of pre-season CFL football action in Regina, on Friday, May 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
There’s a feeling of both finality and opportunity to Canadian Football League cut-down day, with doors unfortunately closing for many and swinging wide open for those that survive.
It’s also a bit of a moving target, with the roster hardly carved in stone as teams begin final preparations for the start of the 2025 season this week — and a week after for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Blue Bombers made official Sunday morning their roster moves after Friday’s final preseason win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, releasing 24 players and moving 11 to the practice roster.
Released from the roster were:
- American receivers Myron Mitchell, Keilahn Harris, Bryson Daughtry, Reggie Brown, David Wallis and Jaylen Hall
- Canadian receivers Nic Kwemo, AK Gassama and Nick Adair
- American defensive backs Dexter Lawson Jr., Isaiah Avery, Russell Dandy, Tay Gowan and Latavious Brini
- American defensive linemen Devo Bridges, Kevin Pointer, Phillip Webb, Marquise Lawson-Greenwood and Brandon Wright
- American offensive linemen Aidan Hemphill and Christophe Atkinson
- Canadian offensive lineman Alexis Levesque-Gallant
- Canadian long snapper Ian Leroux
- Global punter James Evans
Added to the practice roster were:
- American receivers Reggie White, Jr. and Kody Case
- Canadian receiver Gavin Cobb
- American running back Quinton Cooley
- American defensive backs Cam Allen and Jaiden Woodbey
- American defensive lineman Jay Person
- American offensive lineman Tyler Elsbury
- Global defensive lineman Kemari Munier-Bailey
- Canadian offensive lineman Ethan Vibert
- Canadian defensive back Ethan Ball
The cuts news:
-First off, the only real mild surprise of those who were released outright was Mitchell, who shone in rookie camp and then carried that into the first couple of weeks of main camp. But as the sessions wore on, the very deep receiver class stepped up and, apparently, passed him on the depth chart.
Also among the releases were two CFL Draft picks in Gassama, (sixth round, 2024) and Leroux (fourth round, 2024) and one global pick in James Evans (second round, 2025).
Worth noting:
Connor Shay
-Four players from the 2025 CFL Draft class are on the active roster as of now in linebackers Connor Shay (Rd 1, 6th overall), Jaylen Smith (Rd 2, 15th overall) and Lane Novak (Rd 5, 45th overall) and receiver Joey Corcoran (Rd 5, 39th overall) while OL Ethan Vibert (Rd 3, 27th overall) and DB Ethan Ball (54th overall) are on the practice roster.
The three other picks from ’25 include second-round pick QB Taylor Elgersma, who signed with the Green Bay Packers, DL Trey Laing, who reported for rookie camp and then left to attend to personal matters and OL Iwinosa Uwubanmwen, who is recovering from an injury and is heading back to the University of Alberta.
Among the new faces who earned jobs based on their camp performances:
Jerreth Sterns
-Free agent veteran receivers Jerreth Sterns and Dillon Mitchell both open on the active roster. Sterns was steady throughout camp while Mitchell struggled to find consistency but has a proven track record in the league. White, Jr. is on the practice roster.
-Veteran defensive end James Vaughters has been impressive after his years in Calgary and figures to offer some pressure opposite Willie Jefferson.
-Linebacker Jonathan Jones, ex of Toronto, joins a talented list of linebackers and can play both the middle and weak side spots.
-CB/KR Trey Vaval: versatile defender who is in the discussion to be the opening week kick returner with Peyton Logan currently injured.
-RB Matthew Peterson: Canadian tailback acquired from Hamilton before the Global draft and offers depth behind Brady Oliveira.
-DT Collin Kornelson: Manitoba Bisons product drafted in the fifth round (44th overall) in the 2023 CFL Draft.
-QB Chase Artopoeus: looked promising in the first preseason game before getting dinged Friday and having his reps limited. With Zach Collaros serving his one-game suspension for the opener, Chris Streveler, Terry Wilson and Artopoeus would be the three QBs dressed.
New faces who begin on the practice roster:
Quinton Cooley
-Cooley: the rookie RB nicknamed ‘The Shuttlebus’ by teammates, put together a solid preseason and led the team in rushing in both games, totalling 13 carries for 92 yards.
-Cobb: another Manitoba Bisons product who was drafted by Edmonton and appeared in 29 games over 2023-24.
-Allen: Solid first preseason game with an interception and, after not practising last week, suited up for the second contest and had a pass knockdown. He’ll continue to push Jamal Parker, Jr. for the safety job.
-Woodbey: all over the stats sheets in two preseason games and offers versatility.
-Elsbury: big dude at 6-5, 315; came to the club after attending Seattle’s rookie minicamp and playing his college ball at Iowa.
-Munier-Bailey: the team’s first pick in the 2025 Global Draft. Was dinged early in camp, started to flash his skills in second preseason game.
Expect more clarity on the roster and potential depth chart after the club returns to practice later in their Week 1 bye and then leading up to the season opener against the B.C. Lions on June 12th at Princess Auto Stadium.
