The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have found some help for an injury-riddled air defence in former Canadian Football League All-Star cornerback Demerio Houston.

The addition of Houston, however, has not come without some blowback from outside the organization. The 28-year-old was charged with misdemeanour domestic violence after an argument with his wife last November and the Calgary Stampeders had been instructed by the league to release him in February. In March, the charges — which Houston publicly denied — were dismissed in court with his public defender adding they would be expunged from his record.

Houston met with the media following practice on Monday and said he had followed the CFL’s gender-based violence policy through interviews, meeting with therapists and counselling. Asked what he had learned from the experience to become a better man, he said: “Just be there for my family. I had some requirements through the CFL I had to go through. Everything is completed and done with.”

Houston, who played with the Blue Bombers from 2021-23 and last year led the Stamps in interceptions and defensive tackles, said he did wonder if the charges — although dropped — would keep him from playing again.

“It definitely was in the back of my mind, especially getting late into the season,” he said. “But God had another plan for me and I’m just grateful that I’m here for another opportunity.

“… Everything’s clear. I’m just worried about playing football. Winnipeg is a great place with a great culture, and everybody here knows me. They know my character so to have a second chance with this team, I’m just grateful for it.”

Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said the team relied on the CFL for its work in investigating the charges against Houston and then, after his counselling, clearing him to play again.

“The CFL does a damn good job of doing their investigations,” said O’Shea. “So, not just Demerio but over the course of time if our scouting department likes a guy and there’s been something in the past, we submit it to the league, and they say yay or nay. Every team works with the league in terms of making sure they protect the brand and all that other stuff.

“So, as far as we’re concerned, everything was dropped, and the league probably went further than that. They’re pretty thorough. We would certainly trust them. I’m not saying there aren’t conversations, but I don’t know what more you’re going to find.”

O’Shea said the need for help in the secondary — Jamal Parker, Jr. and Terrell Bonds are both on the injured list — did not mean the club overlooked the allegations against Houston.

“Need will never trump integrity,” he said. “Never.”

Asked if he was worried about the public perception given the organization’s family-first reputation, O’Shea added:

“I would always be concerned about being in the community and making sure we’re good citizens in the community. I also believe that in the court’s eyes that there’s nothing there to go further with to the point that this information is going to be expunged from a record then I would say that’s even one step further.

“In this organization we deal with humans and we also deal with humans that make mistakes and work hard to be better.”

FYI: The Blue Bombers didn’t just bolster their secondary with Houston, they also brought back Russell Dandy on the weekend. He had been among the team’s final cuts during camp.

“We always liked the way he competed,” said O’Shea of Dandy. “Good, strong, hard on the ball tackler, aggressive. The end of camp shakes out and you’re only allowed so many people and it’s unfortunate because we do like the way Russ plays the game.

“So when you have this need and spots to fill, you go to the guys you know can do things for you. His understanding of what we do is going to be at a higher level than if we bring in somebody who has never been in here.”

For what it’s worth, the starting defence featured Trey Vaval and Dexter Lawson, Jr. — the starters for last game — still at the same spots.

OUCH REPORT: Some encouraging signs from sick bay with receiver Dalton Schoen and RB/KR Peyton Logan both in full gear and practising this week.

Injury report

Injury Report: August 18, 2025#ForTheW pic.twitter.com/D3WicM1kzA

— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) August 18, 2025

O’Shea when asked for a status report on the duo:

“They’re both practising. We’ll see that ends up — I don’t know how the roster is going to shake down to see where they end up. I think Dalton probably needs a little more time but he looked good out there today running around.”