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<\/p>\nJerreth Sterns glanced over at Nic Demski\u2019s unmanned locker inside the Winnipeg Blue Bombers clubhouse and then paused for a moment to find the right words to explain the value of the veteran receiver.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Nic can\u2019t go it\u2019s going to be a big blow, not just for our receiver room, but for our whole team. He\u2019s a leader,\u201d said Sterns. \u201cHe brings a presence and an energy. It\u2019s something everyone, including the fans, can see.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom an offensive standpoint, he\u2019s a high-knowledge guy who solves a lot of problems for us. The receiver room, if Nic can\u2019t go, is going to have to step up and really make sure we\u2019re on our Ps and Qs with the little details. We all need to get into our playbook just a little bit more so that Zach (Collaros) knows we all know what we need to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cNic is a great guy. Everyone loves being around him. In the receiver room we all know he knows his s\u2013t and then he goes out and makes plays.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not follow a guy like that? He brings so much outside of the stats.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Just for the record, a couple hours after our conversation with Sterns, Demski was officially ruled out by the club for Friday\u2019s home date against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Wednesday\u2019s practice was closed to the media, but Tuesday\u2019s session featured Canadian Gavin Cobb getting a ton of work in Demski\u2019s spot, with Keric Wheatfall also seemingly bumping Dillon Mitchell from the starting crew of receivers.<\/p>\n
Whatever the receiver combination for Friday, taking a three-time 1,000-yard star out of that lineup \u2014 Demski again leads the club in catches (67), yards (1,001) and receiving touchdowns (seven) \u2014 is a big blow with the Blue Bombers still needing to lock up a playoff spot, let alone their seeding for the postseason.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still think we\u2019re in a good spot,\u201d said Sterns. \u201cWe still control our own destiny. Obviously, some games have gotten away from us but now we can\u2019t worry about the past. It\u2019s all about just tackling each day. If everyone has that mindset, we\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s become a bit of a mantra this week after Saturday\u2019s loss to Edmonton, following which veteran defensive back Deatrick Nichols said, \u2018everything we want and need is still in front of us.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like #1 said \u2014 Deatrick \u2014 we still have everything in front of us,\u201d said linebacker Tony Jones. \u201cObviously, the game last week wasn\u2019t in our favour. We felt like we didn\u2019t play a completely sound football game \u2014 all three phases. At the end of the day, everyone in here knows what we can be when we play three-phase football \u2014 we can be an elite team. If we play our brand of football, we\u2019re one of the top teams in the league. We have to go out there and prove it, be disciplined and execute the game plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know who we are as a team. We know who we can be. It\u2019s just we have to go out play all three-phase football. We can\u2019t take turns messing up. We can\u2019t have this guy mess up this quarter, that guy mess up that quarter. Maybe we miss a protection call on punt or miss a block a kickoff\u2026 it\u2019s a team sport and at the end of the day if one guy is either out of their gap or not disciplined in their assignment, it can be a huge gash in what we\u2019re doing as a unit.\u201d<\/p>\n
A win by the Blue Bombers Friday followed by an Elks loss in Vancouver later that night would give Winnipeg its playoff spot. There are any number of scenarios still in play \u2014 including one where the Blue Bombers could still finish second and host the West Semi-final or another where they win on Friday and still miss the playoffs.<\/p>\n
Asked about the various situations at play here, head coach Mike O\u2019Shea offered this on Wednesday:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s partly my job (to know about the scenarios) but most importantly we\u2019ve got to play good football in order to win a game. All the other stuff when you\u2019re constantly relying on other people to do your job for you, you\u2019re going to be disappointed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no point differential right now coming into play (as a tiebreaker) so winning is what\u2019s relevant.\u201d<\/p>\n
OUCH REPORT: Important to keep an eye on both the Blue Bombers and Roughriders injury reports in advance of the depth charts being released on Thursday. Winnipeg\u2019s indicates not only that Demski is out, but KR\/DB Trey Vaval is listed as questionable.<\/p>\n
Injury Report: October 15, 2025#ForTheW<\/a> | @DoctorsManitoba<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/O8p3N6aMCJ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) October 15, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, today\u2019s injury report for the Roughriders \u2014 who have already locked up first place in the West \u2014 is quite revealing. While QB Trevor Harris is listed as \u2018available\u2019, veteran Jake Maier has been getting most of the work with the starters in Regina. As well, receivers KeeSean Johnson and Dohnte Meyers, RB AJ Ouellette, DBs Rolan Milligan, Marcus Sayles and Jaxon Ford and DT Micah Johnson, among others, are all listed as out for Friday.<\/p>\n Here is the Injury report and Game status for Week 20 presented by @worksafesask<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pNwFb7BOzV<\/a><\/p>\n