Kickoff: Saturday, October 25th, 2 p.m. CDT; Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg
TV/Streaming: TSN 1/3; CTV; RDS; CFL+
Radio: 680 CJOB (pre-game begins at noon CDT); Play-by-play: Derek Taylor/analyst: Doug Brown; Sirius XM (ch. 167)
Scene Setter
Take a glance at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers depth chart for their regular-season finale tomorrow against the Montreal Alouettes and instantly there are a couple quick conclusions:
First, it’s clear the club is all in for next week’s game — either the Western Semi-Final or Eastern Semi-Final — given the decision to rest of ton of regulars, including quarterback Zach Collaros, running back Brady Oliveira, left tackle Stanley Bryant, receiver Pokey Wilson, defensive ends Willie Jefferson and James Vaughters, dime back Redha Kramdi and ace kick returner Trey Vaval.
And second, as a result of all that change — nine onto the roster, nine off, in total — it would seem some introductions are definitely now in order.
Making their first Canadian Football League starts in their very first CFL games are defensive ends Matthew Jaworski and Kydran Jenkins — numbers 56 and 54, respectively, in your program — while guard Ethan Vibert, a third-round pick in this year’s CFL Draft and defensive end Kemari Munier-Bailey, the club’s first pick in this year’s Global Draft, will make their Blue Bomber debuts, as will former Calgary Stampeder Cam Echols, who will start at receiver.
Jenkins and Jaworski, FYI, were just added to the practice roster 18 days ago.
Receiver Cam Echols
Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea on the rationale behind how the depth chart was put together for this one:
“Years ago I think I made a mistake, and we didn’t enter a playoff game as fresh as we could have been. That’s part of what goes into it — the belief that healthy and fresh is ultimately important.”
Asked about balancing keeping his team healthy for the playoffs versus this one counting in the standings, he added:
“We know we’re in the playoffs and we have to proceed accordingly. Now, understand that these are pro football players who have a lot of pride and they’re going out to try and win a football game. That’s what they’re trying to do.
“Ultimately, you get a group of veterans that are completely bought in to making sure guys are going to do well. There’s a source of pride, too, for a guy that is not going to be in the game in making sure other guys are going to be right.”
The Blue Bombers know they will be road warriors for the opening round of the playoffs next Saturday, with the destination to be determined as early as tonight. Here are the various playoff scenarios, as outlined by CFL headquarters:
PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
WEST DIVISION
Scenarios resulting in Calgary hosting BC in the Western Semi-Final; Winnipeg crossing over:
CGY WIN and WPG WIN and BC TIE
CGY WIN and WPG LOSS and BC TIE/LOSS
CGY TIE and WPG LOSS and BC LOSS
CGY LOSS and WPG WIN and BC LOSS
Scenarios resulting in BC hosting Calgary in the Western Semi-Final; Winnipeg crossing over:
CGY TIE and BC TIE
CGY LOSS and WPG WIN and BC TIE
CGY LOSS and WPG LOSS and BC TIE/LOSS
BC WIN
Scenarios resulting in Calgary hosting Winnipeg in the Western Semi-Final; BC crossing over:
CGY WIN/TIE and WPG WIN and BC LOSS
EAST DIVISION
Scenarios resulting in Hamilton hosting the Eastern Final; Montreal hosting Eastern Semi-Final:
Scenarios resulting in Montreal hosting the Eastern Final; Hamilton hosting Eastern Semi-Final:
HAM TIE and MTL WIN
HAM LOSS and MTL WIN/TIE
The changes on the offensive side of the ball do raise some eyebrows, given how sluggish that group has been in the two games since blowing out Hamilton 40-3 and throwing up 514 yards of net offence.
Brady Oliveira and Stanley Bryant are among a group of Blue Bombers regulars who sit this one out
Winnipeg’s attack struggled to find some consistency, especially in last week’s 17-16 win over Saskatchewan and will now need to find its magic in eight days in the semi-final. O’Shea did say recently it was important to be rolling into the playoffs, but the last two offensive efforts — and the depth chart for the regular-season finale — will make that challenging.
“I’ve never really believed that you can carry momentum from one game to the next,” he said. “I believe it shifts in game, and you can switch it and carry it and move it around in game, but between games it’s a little different.
“Rolling for me would be the group practising well together and executing at a high level and being polished for the time of year.”
THE LINEUP: The Blue Bombers depth chart for tomorrow features nine changes in total and some tinkering with the practice roster and one-game injured list.
On are: RB/KR Peyton Logan, QB Chase Atropoeus, WR Cam Echols, DB Dexter Lawson, Jr., DE Kemari Munier-Bailey, DEs Kydran Jenkins and Matthew Jaworski, OL Ethan Vibert and Michael Vanterpool.
Off are: QB Zach Collaros, RB Brady Oliveira, DEs Willie Jefferson, James Vaughters and Jay Person, OL Stanley Bryant, DB Redha Kramdi, KR Trey Vaval and WR Pokey Wilson.
The one-game injured list now features all of the above, plus SB Nic Demski, DB Michael Griffin II, LB Michael Jackson and DBs Ridge Texada and Major Williams. Williams and Texada have yet to play for the Blue Bombers but placing them on the one-game injured list secures their rights for 2026.
The six-game injured list includes WR Dalton Schoen, LB Lane Novak, DT Tanner Schmekel, OL Eric Lofton, CB Terrell Bonds, WR Kody Case and DB Enock Makonzo.
