Taylor Allen

@WinnipegNews sports reporter

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

“I think we can be a great team."

It's time to see what the 2026 edition of the Blue Bombers are all about.

Here's 5 Storylines heading into tonight's season opener in Calgary.

https://t.co/C7U60AD2eX

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

“It was actually unbelievable what he endured."

Reporting live from Calgary, I chatted with Winnipegger/Stamps guard Zack Williams on the sleepless nights he endured to make it to the CFL.
https://t.co/6BwePIwMUC

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

Here's how the Bombers are lining up tomorrow night in Calgary.

C Tyler Elsbury and rookie CB Major Williams are starting in their first career CFL games.

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

Bombers announce their final roster cuts. Last year's starting RT Kendall Randolph among those who were let go.

DB Major Williams, DE De'Shaan Dixon, DE Kydran Jenkins and C Tyler Elsbury have made the team.

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

“I wasn’t going to let his former home life be an obstacle."

Dante Daniels skipped school to collect bottles so his younger siblings wouldn't go hungry.

Now, he's a Blue Bomber.

An incredible story of perseverance and the people who changed his life.

https://t.co/4ebQ2KouZH

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

Rookie DB Ridge Texada is the third member of his family to be under contract with the Bombers, but he hopes to be the first to actually suit up in blue and gold.

"It’s more about proving myself right than about anybody else.”

https://t.co/87pXCoiQ6Z

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

Rookie linebacker Ja'Kobe Clinton, the brother of former NFL Pro Bowl safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, is eager to make a name for himself with the Blue Bombers.

"We got two different roads and I kind of took the harder route."

https://t.co/yNItRJqILC

[Dave Naylor @TSNDaveNaylor]

The @Ticats have signed WR Kenny Lawler to a new 3-year $1 million contract … making it the biggest receiver deal in CFL history, aside from the 1991 Rocket Ismail @argos contract for personal services. The 31-year-old Lawler led the @CFL with 16.8 yards per catch last season and was second in total yardage with 1,443. #CFL

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

And then there were three.

Bombers transfer QB Terry Wilson to the suspended list. He was initially listed third on the depth chart for tomorrow's pre-season game in Saskatoon. With Payton Thorne leaving earlier this week, that leaves the Bombers w/ Collaros, Elgersma, Perkins.

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

"I almost had a sack on Drew Brees."

I chatted with some Blue Bombers' vets on what they remember about their first career pre-season games.

https://t.co/mWHSEblGEH

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

Mason Kraus was brilliant. The former Manitoba Bison had zero points in 3 games last summer as a rookie. Today he came off the bench and drilled three 3s, grabbed several clutch rebounds late, and hit the game-winning FTs.

Sea Bears start the season with a big road win.

[Winnipeg Sea Bears @wpgseabears]

THAT'S A DUB‼️

@Payworks

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

@DougBlaylock @WinnipegNews @CanadiensMTL Thank you very much, Doug.

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

If QB Payton Thorne lands a job with the Bombers, it could mess up his plans to catch up with his Super Bowl MVP-winning friend.

“I told him you better get your passport."

https://t.co/vii57tOTCW

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

Bombers announcing some title changes in their personnel department.

Danny McManus is now the Senior Asst. GM, and Jim Jauch is now the Asst. GM.

Also, the club has transferred former NFL RB J.J. Taylor to the retired list.

[Jeff Hamilton @jeffkhamilton]

Public service journalism matters.

My investigation into Manitoba's broken teacher oversight system, Classroom Confidential, is a 2025 Michener Award finalist. Grateful to those who shared their stories and the Free Press for the support.

Read it here: https://t.co/pQ3eVLgSv8

[Brady Oliveira 🏈 🐶 @bradyoliveira]

8 out of 9 teams in the Canadian Football League playoffs takes away from what makes those games special.

Playoff football is supposed to be earned. If anything, grow the league by adding more teams…. not the number of automatic spots. 🤷🏽‍♂️

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

Bombers select Edward Vesterinen🇫🇮 in the first round of 2026 Global Draft.

They've landed themselves quite the athlete.

[RAS.football @MathBomb]

Edward Vesterinen is a DT prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 8.93 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 244 out of 2278 DT from 1987 to 2026.

https://t.co/2UJ2ehmeTT

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

Winnipeg's Giordano Vaccaro -- with over 250 friends and family members at the Caboto Centre for his draft party -- gets the call from Redblacks head coach Ryan Dinwiddie that he's being selected first overall.

[Hamilton Sports Central @HSCentralYT]

Also here is the key dates next Year.

CFL Invitational Combine | February 26
CFL Combine presented by Anytime Fitness | Week of March 15
CFL Canadian Draft | April 13
CFL Global Draft | April 14
Rookie Camp Opens | April 21
Training Camp Opens | April 24
Week 1 | Victoria Day Weekend
Week 6 | Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day/Fête nationale du Québec (Que.)
Week 7 | Canada Day Weekend
Week 11 | August Long Weekend (Civic Holiday)
Week 16 | Labour Day Weekend
Week 21 | Thanksgiving Weekend

[Taylor Allen @TaylorAllen31]

CFL has just announced some massive changes to their playoff format starting in 2027. The new format below will lead to four additional playoff games being played.

The season will also start on Victoria Day weekend.