Mike O’Shea has never imposed a bye week list of dos and don’ts in his 10-plus years at the helm of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. It’s simply not his style to play the heavy-handed dictator, after all.

No doubt there are some basics at play here, like stressing the need to get some mental and physical rest, but staying ready, not do anything dumb to embarrass yourself or the brand and come back eager to work.

And so when the Blue Bombers returned to the practice field Monday following their third and final bye of the season — and their most-thorough performance in a 40-3 routing of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats just prior to that — there was a certain energy that has this team in a good place heading into the stretch run.

Veteran receiver Nic Demski referred to it as a ‘good vibe’ when the team returned for meetings on Sunday.

Nic Demski at Monday’s practice

“We didn’t watch any of the film together, so you bring up the good clips and the boys are cheering,” he said. “Everybody was in a good mood. Shayne (Gauthier) got married so that added some — what’s the word — ‘oomph’, something like that. Just stuff like that and bringing the band back together is always a good feeling.

“(The bye week) was the reset we all needed. You share some stories. Osh (Mike O’Shea) comes in and asks if anybody has some good stories. Shayne says how he got married and everybody’s cheering.

“That type of energy is contagious and it’s what everybody needs going into this next week and carry what did well over from last week.”

We detail the remaining schedule and some important notes below, FYI, but there are enough veterans dominating the Blue Bombers clubhouse to help set an important tone for this crew right now — namely, first, second, third or serving as the crossover team won’t matter as long as this bunch brings it come playoff time.

“It’s a crazy West Division right now,” said running back Brady Oliveira. “We’ll see how everything plays out, but we’ve got to worry about ourselves right now and just winning football games. We’ve got to worry about Edmonton this week and going in there and winning that football game and just every week worry about going 1-0.”

Defensive end James Vaughters on the first day back for the Blue Bombers after the bye week

Asked if he had a preference for which route the team takes should it lock up a playoff spot — through the West or the East — Oliveira shrugged and then added:

“It’s been great finishing first here these last number of years. For me, I could care less where we finish or who we’re playing or where we’re playing. I’m going to bring my best football on that day, and I expect that from my teammates as well.”

Zach Collaros said he and his family spent the bye week here in Manitoba, heading up to Lac du Bonnet for a couple of days. He said he did throw a little bit — “with my son, man. I’ve got to get him going” — although we’re not sure what kind of routes Dean, who is not yet two, is running.

He also spoke of the mental and physical grind of the season — the Blue Bombers went 11 games between bye weeks — but most players are so locked in, completely escaping is impossible.

“You have to try and unplug a little bit,” he said. “There were nights when the kids are asleep early and my wife falls asleep early and I really had nothing else to do but put the film on, but you have to try and put it away for a little bit but it’s easier said than done.

“(The rest of the season) goes fast. It does go fast. Like I always say, you don’t get a lot of opportunities, so you’ve got to cherish them. There’s not much time left together. The urgency, of course, ratchets up a bit. I’m looking forward to it.

“The vibes are good. There’s a lot of good energy out here. The guys are playing fast. As the season goes on you understand what your role is, you understand the system you’re playing in better and better and you get to know your teammates better so I think that’s the most important thing — you feel like you know everybody at this point, whether it’s a new guy or a guy you’ve known for a long time.”

More notes and quotes from Bomberland in this week’s Need to Know…

THE STANDINGS/SCHEDULE WATCH…

Oliveira said it best above when he said “the West Division is crazy right now” what with so much left to be determined and four of the five squads headed to the postseason — one as a crossover team to the East Division.

And O’Shea on where the Blue Bombers stand currently:

“It’s perfect. It has to be because this is where we’re at. There’s no changing it now. We just move forward. Just keep getting better, learning from what we’re doing and keep doing it for the right reasons.”

 

Here’s a look at what’s left on the regular-season bone:

*Clinched playoff spot

Roughriders: 11-4*
Road (1): Winnipeg, October 17th
Home (2): Toronto, October 10th; B.C., October 25th
Winning percentage of remaining teams: 46.8% (22-25)
Note: already won season series vs. Wpg and B.C. — up 2-0 with one remaining against each club; lost season series to Cal (0-2).

Lions: 9-7*
Road (1): Saskatchewan, Oct. 25th
Home (1): Edmonton, Oct. 17th
Winning percentage of remaining teams: 56.7% (17-13)
Note: lost season series vs. Wpg and Sask (0-2), one game remaining against the Riders; won season series vs. Cal (2-0).

Stampeders (8-7)
Road (2): Hamilton, Oct. 11th; Edmonton, Oct. 24th
Home (1): Toronto, Oct. 18th
Winning percentage of remaining teams: 44.7% (21-26)
Note: Won season series vs. Sask (2-0) and Wpg (3-0); lost season series to B.C. (0-2).

Blue Bombers (8-7)
Road (1): Edmonton, Oct. 11th
Home (2): Saskatchewan, Oct. 17th; Montreal, Oct. 25th
Winning percentage of remaining teams: 55.6% (25-20)
Note: won season series vs. B.C. (2-0); lost season series to Stamps (0-3) and to Roughriders (0-2); lead season series vs. Edm (1-0 with a 36-23 victory back on June 26).

Elks (6-9)
Road (1): B.C., Oct. 17th
Home (2): Winnipeg, Oct. 11th; Calgary, Oct. 24th
Winning percentage of remaining teams: 54.4% (25-21)
Note: Cannot catch Sask; lost the season series to B.C. (0-2 with one remaining); even with the Stamps 1-1 with one remaining; trail Wpg 0-1 with the game this weekend).

FYI: Guard Pat Neufeld was at practice on Monday but did not participate. O’Shea called it a ‘vet card’. Micah Vanterpool worked in his place between Chris Kolankowski and Kendall Randolph.

CB Demerio Houston was absent, but excused, while CB Jamal Parker, Jr. worked in his spot.

TRUE NORTH STRONG: Oliveira when it was pointed out to him by CJOB’s Derek Taylor that Canadian players are again bringing it this season, with so many among the league leaders in the stats:

“We’ve got some studs, man. We’ve got some incredible Canadian talent in this league and it’s great to see. I’m always a big supporter of all the Canadians around the league and especially the ones that are doing well. You want to see them continuing to succeed because I think it’s great for the next generation coming into this league it gives them hope.

“Hopefully front offices and GMs around the league are taking notice and understand that there’s a ratio and there are certain spots that need to be played as Canadians but you can maybe start more Canadians because it doesn’t matter what the passport is, it’s looking like a lot of Canadians are really stepping up this year and putting up some big numbers.”

NEW BLUE BLOOD: The Blue Bombers officially added five players on Monday as part of the fall practice roster expansion. They are:

DB/LB Matthew Jackson (6-1, 209, Eastern Kentucky; born: November 9, 1998, in Chicago, IL.) joins the Bombers after time in the NFL, and a four-year collegiate career with Eastern Kentucky.

Jackson joins the Bombers after time in the NFL, and a four-year collegiate career with Eastern Kentucky. During his days at Eastern Kentucky (2018-2021) he totalled 294 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and ten pass breakups in 50 games. He emerged as one of the top defensive players in the FCS, earning All-ASUN honours, Stats Perform Third-Team All-America recognition in 2022, and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award (awarded annually to the most outstanding defensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision) in 2021.

OL Hunter Poncius (6-8, 318, North Dakota State; born: February 27, 2001, in Buffalo, MN.) signs with the Bombers after a five-year collegiate career at North Dakota State and attending the Montreal Alouettes training camp this season.

Poncius played five seasons at North Dakota State University (2019–2024), appearing in 40 games for the Bison, primarily at left tackle and on special teams units.

DE Matthew Jaworski (6-5, 260, Fordham; born: December 6, 2002, in Buffalo, NY.) joins the Blue Bombers after a four-year collegiate career with Fordham University.

Over his four seasons at Fordham (2021–2024), Jaworski appeared in 42 games and totalled 165 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, five pass breakups, one blocked kick, and 34 quarterback hurries.

He was a two-time All-Patriot League selection, earned Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honours in 2024, and was named a second-team FCS All-American by Stats Perform. Jaworski was also a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in FCS football.

DE Kydran Jenkins (6-1, 190, Purdue; born: July 3, 2002, in Louisville, GA.) joins the Bombers after a five-year collegiate career with Purdue.

Jenkins joins the Bombers after a five-year collegiate career with Purdue (2020-25) where he appeared in 52 games for the Boilermakers, starting 49. In those games he totalled 207 tackles, 44 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one defensive touchdown and one blocked kick.

Jenkins was a consistent playmaker on Purdue’s defence and earned multiple All-Big Ten honours, including a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2024. He had standout seasons in both 2023 and 2024, combining for over 140 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, and 14.5 sacks in those two years alone.

DB Major Williams (6-1, 190, Carson-Newman; born: August 31, 2001, in Fort Myers, FL.) signs with the Bombers after a three-year collegiate career with Virginia (2019) and Carson-Newman (2022-2023).

During his time at Carson-Newman, Williams appeared in 34 games and recorded a total of 155 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.

In May 2025, Williams participated in the Kansas City Chiefs’ rookie minicamp and earned a spot on the preseason roster.