{"id":213548,"date":"2025-10-15T00:22:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T00:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/213548\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T00:22:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T00:22:13","slug":"need-to-know-week-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/213548\/","title":{"rendered":"Need to Know | Week 20"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve reached that chunk of the Canadian Football League calendar when every mistake and every loss can burn holes in memory banks, both in the short and long term.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also the time of year when players and teams can author tales which forever cement them as franchise legends \u2014 a storyline we\u2019ve certainly seen play out for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers over their five-year run of Grey Cup appearances, including two championships.<\/p>\n

All that resonates especially now, what with the Blue Bombers coming off a 25-20 loss to the Edmonton Elks on Saturday and now in a quick turnaround week before Friday\u2019s home date with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. They\u2019ve got to lean in more than ever now to their \u2018just go 1-0 this week\u2019 mantra, what with the West Division playoff race now featuring four teams behind the first-place Riders jockeying for the three final playoff spots \u2014 two in the West and a third as the crossover club to the East Division.<\/p>\n

As defensive back Deatrick Nichols put it so succinctly after Saturday\u2019s loss: \u201cThe key now is to remember that everything we want and need is still in front of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo doubt. No doubt,\u201d added head coach Mike O\u2019Shea following Tuesday\u2019s practice. \u201cI have a hard time thinking of it any other way. Now, we have to handle our business.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to win a game, for sure, and we don\u2019t just want to limp in (to the playoffs), either \u2014 you want to be playing good football going in. Everybody down here (football operations\/locker room) understands what we\u2019re capable of when we play good three-phase football. And that\u2019s exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The various playoff scenarios are still a jumbled mess and the Blue Bombers loss on the weekend certainly didn\u2019t help their cause in hosting a home playoff game for a fifth straight year or even locking up a spot in the postseason.<\/p>\n

Now 8-8, a win this Friday coupled with a loss by the Elks to the B.C. Lions, Edmonton is 7-9, would mean Winnipeg qualifies for the postseason for an eighth straight season.<\/p>\n

Now, not to further confuse things, but there is a scenario where the Blue Bombers don\u2019t make the playoffs even if they win this weekend.<\/p>\n

Should the Lions, 9-7, Stampeders, also 9-7, drop both their final two games, Edmonton wins both and Winnipeg splits \u2014 essentially all four teams would be 9-9 \u2014 then the Blue Bombers would miss the playoffs because they would have the worst winning percentage in common games between the four squads at 3-4 (.429) while B.C. would be 4-3 (.571), and Calgary and Edmonton both at 4-4 (.500).<\/p>\n

Here is that scenario as explained by the CFL:<\/p>\n

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That makes this weekend mammoth for the Blue Bombers who served up such a dandy in their game before the bye week with a 40-3 evisceration of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats only to get burned by their mistakes in the loss to Edmonton. Win both this Friday and in the regular-season finale at home against the Montreal Alouettes and they\u2019re in the Grey Cup derby. A win Friday puts the pressure on the Elks to respond with their own victory in B.C. later that night.<\/p>\n

A loss by the Blue Bombers on Friday and an Elks win, well, let\u2019s not go there just yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cTeams have made the Grey Cup in many different ways \u2014 we\u2019re a living testament to that,\u201d said quarterback Zach Collaros. \u201cOnce you make the playoffs it\u2019s anybody\u2019s game. We have to focus on this week and take care of business.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said it after the game and I meant it: you set goals for the season \u2014 I know you don\u2019t talk about goals and the ultimate goal is to win the Grey Cup \u2014 but you want to play a home (playoff) game. Obviously, it gives you an advantage in that game.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have such an incredible fan base here, you want to bring them out for another one. I know the Grey Cup is here but it would be nice to have that one, too. I said that to Wade (Miller, Blue Bombers President and CEO) the other day. We understand how teams make money in this league. It\u2019s been great for the organization and the bottom line because we\u2019ve had so many home playoff games.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one of the things I think about.\u201d<\/p>\n

More notes and quotes as the Blue Bombers returned to work on Monday in this week\u2019s NEED TO KNOW\u2026<\/p>\n

NO NEWS IS\u2026 NO NEWS: Leading receiver Nic Demski was not on the practice field on Tuesday after suffering a hamstring injury late in the first half of the loss to Edmonton.<\/p>\n

Injury Report: October 14, 2025#ForTheW<\/a> | @DoctorsManitoba<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9YyUlXejkf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) October 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cNo update yet. I don\u2019t rule out anybody on anything,\u201d said O\u2019Shea. \u201cHe\u2019s exceptionally good and extremely trusted in the offence and extremely experienced. So, yeah, it hurts.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut anybody with that kind of pedigree it would hurt to lose for a game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Canadian Gavin Cobb was working in Demski\u2019s spot with the starting offence on Tuesday and also worth noting: Keric Wheatfall was back with the starters at the expense of Dillon Mitchell.<\/p>\n

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Gavin Cobb<\/p>\n

Said Collaros on who has to step up if Demski can\u2019t go: \u201cJust everybody as a group has to understand what their job is even more. As I always tell you guys, Nic does a ton for us so when he\u2019s not out there it can make stuff difficult. Obviously when you\u2019re in a game where a lot of things are drawn up for him, he problem-solves a lot for us. It\u2019s imperative for us \u2014 not just this week, but every week \u2014 to make sure that we understand that, if worse-case scenario he\u2019s not playing, what we need to do to continue to execute.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a handful of plays, if not every game, that you always second guess and wish you could do better on,\u201d added Collaros when asked to assess the loss to Edmonton. \u201cWe need to play better on offence. Bottom line. And the buck starts with me as the quarterback. I make the decisions out there on the field \u2014 where to go with the football, when to throw the football, all those different moments in the game, I\u2019m the guy with the football. So, I have to do a better job.\u201d<\/p>\n

WHO\u2019S UP\/DOWN IN RIDERVILLE: Saskatchewan has clinched top spot in the West Division and their injury report over the first couple of days of practice this week might be \u2014 might be \u2014 a sneak peek at their roster plans for this weekend.<\/p>\n

QB Trevor Harris did not practice on Monday and was limited on Tuesday, while receivers KeeSean Johnson and Dohnte Meyers, defensive backs Rolan Milligan, Marcus Sayles, short-yardage QB Tommy Stevens and kicker Brett Lauther all did not practice on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Asked about the potential roster changes in Saskatchewan, O\u2019Shea shrugged his shoulders and said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not my department. That\u2019s up to (Roughriders head coach) Corey Mace and I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll make the decisions that are best for his team, and we\u2019ll line up and play whoever shows up.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to expect their best. It\u2019s professional sports, right? They\u2019re all pros. They\u2019re on their roster for a reason. You prepare for the system. There\u2019s just not enough bodies to rest everybody. We\u2019ve been through this a bunch of times. Lots of regular guys you see every week have to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

NEW BLUE BLOOD: The Blue Bombers added another pair to their practice roster on Tuesday with the signings of DE DeShaan Dixon and OL Ben Dooley, both Americans.<\/p>\n

Dixon (6-4, 247, Norfolk State; born: December 16, 1998, in Chesapeake, VA.) spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2022-2024) followign a five-year collegiate career with Norfolk State (2017-2021).<\/p>\n

During his time at Norfolk State, Dixon appeared in 42 games, recording 154 total tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, and 14.5 sacks. He earned first-team All-MEAC honours in his senior year after leading the conference in sacks with nine and ranking second in tackles for loss with 12.5. He was also an invitee to the East-West Shrine Bowl and the HBCU Legacy Bowl following his 2021 season.<\/p>\n

Dixon signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and made the team\u2019s 53-man roster out of training camp, appearing in three games during his rookie season. In 2023, he was waived during final roster cuts but was retained on the practice squad and later signed a reserve\/future contract with the team in January 2024.<\/p>\n

Dooley (6-5, 320, Boise State; born: April 3, 2001, in Fallon, NV.) enjoyed\u00a0 five-year collegiate career with Boise State (2020-2024) and a stint with the Los Angeles Rams this year after signing as a free agent.<\/p>\n

During his career at Boise State, he earned multiple honours including First Team All\u2011Mountain West, College Football Network Third Team All\u2011America, and repeated Academic All\u2011Mountain West accolades.<\/p>\n

In his final season, he started all 14 games at left guard, helped anchor an offensive line that facilitated a school\u2011record 3,365 rushing yards, and allowed only one sack in 428 pass\u2011blocking opportunities.<\/p>\n