Published Oct 31, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 12\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 2 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t practice again all week and his head coach remained tight-lipped about his status for Saturday\u2019s playoff game in Montreal.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Nic Demski was listed as a game-time decision when the Bombers released their roster for the East semifinal, raising perhaps a sliver of hope the team\u2019s top receiver could be available.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Demski suffered a hamstring injury in the Bombers\u2019 loss in Edmonton, Oct. 11, their first game after a bye week.<\/p>\n Despite missing the last two regular-season games, he still finished as the squad\u2019s top receiver, with 67 catches for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns, all Winnipeg highs.<\/p>\n The next receiver, Keric Wheatfall, was well back with 655 yards, while running back Brady Oliveira was second with 61 receptions.<\/p>\n Named a West Division all-star this week, Demski\u2019s absence would be a sizable blow to a passing attack ranked last in the CFL with 235 yards per game.<\/p>\n The Winnipeg Sun’s Daily Headline News<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The person who\u2019d miss the Winnipegger the most: quarterback Zach Collaros.<\/p>\n \u201cZach trusts him like crazy,\u201d head coach Mike O\u2019Shea said before his team left for Montreal. \u201cThey\u2019re on the same page all the time. They see defences the same, they see football the same way. And he\u2019s always one of the better athletes on the field at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n The offence would try to make up for Demski\u2019s loss by committee, first-year Bomber Gavin Cobb likely taking his position in the starting lineup. Cobb caught six passes for 51 yards over the last two games.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a good chance Winnipeg relies heavily on Oliveira, too, both on the ground and through the air.<\/p>\n The running back says they\u2019ll also rely on defence and special teams.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is why it\u2019s the greatest team sport,\u201d Oliveira said. \u201cYou need everyone. Our defence has been playing lights-out all season, keeping us in games. And you look at our special teams, our cover units, our return units, Trey (Vaval) back there and the crew putting us in some great field position so as an offence we can go out there and execute.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cDown this stretch you\u2019re going to need everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Montreal\u2019s passing attack was ranked just two spots ahead of Winnipeg, but quarterback Davis Alexander started just seven games.<\/p>\n The four-year CFLer was one of the top-ranked passers in the league in those games, throwing for 2,24 yards with 10 touchdowns and just three interceptions.<\/p>\n As a team, the Alouettes threw just 15 interceptions, compared to Winnipeg\u2019s league-worst 27. Montreal\u2019s turnover ratio was plus-8, the Bombers\u2019 minus-11, something players and coaches harped on all week.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to be clean, crisp, pristine,\u201d is how offensive coordinator Jason Hogan put it. \u201cNot give the ball away.\u201d<\/p>\n Hogan\u2019s reasons for optimism: \u201cWe\u2019ve done it all year, we just haven\u2019t done it for 60 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n paul.friesen@kleinmedia.ca<\/p>\n X: @friesensunmedia<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Breadcrumb Trail Links SportsFootballCFLWinnipeg Blue Bombers Get the latest from Paul Friesen straight to your inbox Sign Up…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":254239,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-254238","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cfl","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-canadian-football-league","11":"tag-canadianfootballleague","12":"tag-cfl","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=254238"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254238\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/254239"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=254238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=254238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=254238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Winnipeg](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BombersOnline.jpg\")
Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Dalton Schoen, centre, celebrates scoring a touchdown against the B.C. Lions with Nic Demski, left, and Keric Wheatfall, right, during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver. Photo by Ethan Cairns\/The Canadian Press \/Winnipeg SunArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Winnipeg](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.8.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-wsun-new.svg\"){kind=logo}
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