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Fortunately for him, he had good reason to call them all again later in the day with an exciting update: he didn\u2019t get a visit from football\u2019s version of the Grim Reaper.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old had made the active roster for the first time as a pro.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just another opportunity to try and prove yourself, try and make a name for yourself, and do what\u2019s right for this program and uphold that standard of their winning history,\u201d Elsbury told the Free Press after Wednesday\u2019s closed practice.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be a dream come true to play pro football and this is a step in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
With nothing guaranteed and his family itching to see what life in the CFL is all about, his dad and grandparents drove up from Strawberry Point, Iowa to catch Elsbury in action in Friday\u2019s pre-season finale at home against the B.C. Lions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was probably about 10 hours for them. It\u2019s not too bad, but with my grandparents they probably stopped eight times on the way up here and eight times on the way down so they could go to the bathroom,\u201d he said with a laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut they had a blast.\u201d<\/p>\n
His dad, Mike, will be packing a bag again this week as he\u2019s flying to Calgary to watch the Bombers open the 2026 campaign against the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium on Friday.<\/p>\n
If everything goes according to plan, he\u2019ll be checking off several major Canadian cities this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dad\u2019s retired so he kind of gets to do whatever he wants and fly up whenever. He bought an RV last year so he\u2019s probably going to trek up in that, too,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s pretty pumped up to be able to travel around.\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a good chance that Calgary will be a worthwhile trip since early signs indicate his son might be the starting centre. Elsbury worked with the first-team O-line \u2014 which featured Stanley Bryant, Gabe Wallace, Patrick Neufeld and Jarell Broxton \u2014 on Tuesday, and the injury report listed veteran Canadian Tui Eli, expected to land the job out of training camp, as a limited participant on Wednesday with an ankle issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cPaddy and Stan and those guys, they\u2019ve played a lot of football. So just to be around them takes the burden off my shoulders,\u201d said Elsbury, who started six games at Iowa in a loaded O-line room featuring numerous NFLers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not like I\u2019m playing with a bunch of guys who are two years in and we\u2019re all trying to figure this out together. We have lots of vets on this line that can really handle situations, so I just got to lean on them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elsbury isn\u2019t a true rookie. He joined the Bombers midway through training camp last season before earning a spot on the practice squad. He left the team in July to deal with a personal matter.<\/p>\n
Regardless of his experience, or lack thereof, Neufeld has full confidence in his fresh-faced teammate.<\/p>\n
\u201cExtremely smart guy. He\u2019s been around high-level football at Iowa and knows football inside and out,\u201d said Neufeld.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s fit in seamlessly and been a great add for us. Whatever role he\u2019s gonna be in, he\u2019s gonna thrive because he\u2019s just that good of a football player.\u201d<\/p>\n
BIG 5 DEBUT<\/p>\n
It\u2019s time to see what the Bombers\u2019 prized free agent signings are all about.<\/p>\n
Broxton, defensive tackle Jake Ceresna, corner Jonathan Moxey and receivers Tim White and Tommy Nield will all play their first games in blue and gold on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think what stands out is how quickly they fit in,\u201d said head coach Mike O\u2019Shea. \u201cWe expect that, but to see it happen is pretty cool. As a group, I think they\u2019re good fits.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Shea believes the organization\u2019s investment is already paying off.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way they conduct themselves in the building and the way they practice, I\u2019d say they already have (made a difference).\u201d<\/p>\n
CFL TOP 50<\/p>\n
The CFL on TSN\u2019s annual Top 50 players list was unveiled late Tuesday and seven Bombers were recognized.<\/p>\n
The Saskatchewan Roughriders led the way with nine.<\/p>\n
Representing Winnipeg were running back Brady Oliveira (seventh), Broxton (13th), QB Zach Collaros (29th), DB Evan Holm (39th), Ceresna (40th), WR Nic Demski (45th) and KR\/CB Trey Vaval (46th).<\/p>\n
B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke was ranked No. 1.<\/p>\n
Oliveira topped the list in 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very grateful that I\u2019m being recognized, but there\u2019s a bigger goal than being in that,\u201d said Broxton.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is an honour, but we\u2019re trying to get a Grey Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n
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Taylor Allen Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree\/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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