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News May 10, 2026

Tait’s Takes | Training Camp Day 1

Christian Fredericksen pulls in a pass on Day 1 of Blue Bombers training camp; photos by Cameron Bartlett

@EdTaitWFC

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers opened their 2026 main training camp on a frigid Sunday morning at Princess Auto Stadium.

Some notes from Day 1…

OUCH REPORT

-Tough to see LB Jovan Santos-Knox taken from the field after suffering an injury early in the session. He played his first game in Blue Bombers colours in 2017 and was signed this winter to bolster the linebacking depth after spending 2019 in Edmonton, 2021-22 with Hamilton and the last three seasons in Ottawa.

Head coach Mike O’Shea was asked for an update on Santos-Knox after practice and could only offer: “not yet.”

POSITIONAL BATTLE OF THE DAY

-One of the key battles to study during training camp will be what happens along the offensive line — whether the club switches the ratio by using three Americans, or more, instead of just two.

Lock in future hall of famer Stanley Bryant at left tackle and ditto for new right tackle Jarell Broxton as the two sure-things for Americans.

Veteran Canadian Tui Elli is the front runner to replace Chris Kolankowski, now in Hamilton, at centre but on Sunday three Americans were also getting looks there in Tyler Elsbury, Joe More and Bucky Williams.

There’s also a long group of American guard candidates, including Kendall Randolph, who started at right tackle last year and Micah Vanterpool, who has been with the club for two years. The collection of imports assembled will attempt to push long-standing vet Patrick Neufeld and Gabe Wallace, who were locks at the guard spots last year.

GUEST COACHES

-Among the guest coaches helping during camp are former Blue Bombers DE Jamaal Westerman, currently the strength coach at Rutgers his alma mater, recently retired Hamilton-Ottawa receiver Bralon Addison as part of the CFL’s Diversity in Football Program, Acadia University head coach Jeff Cummins and the University of Guelph head coach Mark Surya.

NOW HEAR THIS

Willie Jefferson and Brady Oliveira on the CFL’s new playoff format for 2027:

Jefferson: “Two more teams are added to the playoffs. Only one team gets to go home at the end of the year — sorry — but it’s a little bit more money in guys’ pockets. Three teams used to go home at the end of the season and now it’s just one — again, sorry. It’s different. The commissioner has come in and is trying to make some new changes, make things a little bit different and trying to bring in a little bit more revenue for the league.”

Oliveira: “Optically, when you just say eight of the nine teams are going to make the playoffs, that was the only thing that was kind of a concern for me. Like, you might as well put all nine teams in then, right? But that’s not until next year.

“At the end of the day, we have to have belief and faith that the commissioner, the board of governors, they’re all making the best decisions in whatever is going to grow this league. I love this league and I want to continue to see it grow. I know the product is amazing and we need to get more eyes on it.

“I get it from a business standpoint — more games, more revenue, TV partnerships and if that’s going to bring more eyes to the game, then I’m for it.”

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