Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ defence shows improvement ahead of Redblacks game

By Noah Lavoie — 16 July 2026 — 4 min read

Bombers’ Defensive Resurgence

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers‘ defence has demonstrated significant improvement recently, following a challenging start to the season. After three initial performances that were described as discouraging, the unit has transformed, becoming the sole team in the CFL to limit opponents to 21 points or fewer in its last two outings. This defensive turnaround contributed to their recent 30-21 home victory against the Toronto Argonauts.

Currently, the Bombers hold the second position in the league for scoring defence, conceding an average of 24.4 points per game. Their next challenge is against the Ottawa Redblacks at TD Place Stadium on Sunday, an opportunity to further reduce their average points allowed.

Defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger acknowledged the team’s slow start, noting that identifying areas for improvement against their own offence during training camp can be difficult. However, the team has since made adjustments, particularly in stopping the run game.

The Bombers held the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Week 5) and Toronto to a combined 108 rushing yards. They also achieved a second-half shutout against Hamilton and successfully thwarted the Argonauts on a short field in the fourth quarter, leading to a missed field goal attempt that resulted in a 129-yard touchdown return by Trey Vaval, sealing the win.

Despite these improvements, the defence still faces challenges. Opponents have converted 53.2 per cent of their second downs, and the team is tied for last in the CFL with only four takeaways, comprising one interception and three fumble recoveries. Younger mentioned several dropped interception opportunities that, if caught, would significantly improve their takeaway statistics.

Quarterback Situation and Upcoming Matchup

The status of quarterback Zach Collaros remains uncertain as he works towards returning to the field. Head coach Mike O’Shea stated that the timeline for Collaros‘s return from a neck injury is primarily determined by head athletic therapist Alain Couture and Collaros himself. Collaros was a non-participant in practice last week and was moved to the one-game injured list after being listed as questionable for the game against the Toronto Argonauts.

In Collaros‘s absence, Dru Brown started against the Argonauts, completing 80.6 percent of his passes for 339 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the 30-21 victory. O’Shea praised Brown‘s performance, highlighting his decision-making and composure. Despite Brown‘s strong showing, O’Shea indicated that this performance would not influence the decision regarding Collaros‘s return to the starting role, emphasizing the team’s consistent process for such decisions.

Brown was acquired from the Ottawa Redblacks last month. The Bombers are scheduled to visit the nation’s capital this weekend, a factor O’Shea noted would not influence the starting quarterback decision. Collaros sustained his neck injury in the second quarter of the team’s 14-13 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Week 5. Through four starts this season, he has completed 71.8 percent of his passes for 985 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions, with a 2-2 record.

The Redblacks‘ offence, which ranks near the bottom of the CFL in several passing categories, presents an opportunity for the Bombers‘ defence. Ottawa quarterback Jake Maier threw four interceptions in his last game against Edmonton. There is speculation that Maier could be benched in favour of McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who joined Ottawa last month after Dru Brown was traded to Winnipeg.

Willie Jefferson, defensive end for the Bombers, cautioned against underestimating the Redblacks, stating that they have good players capable of making plays. The game is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, with kickoff at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

Notable Returns and Team Preparations

The upcoming game against the Ottawa Redblacks will also mark a return to the nation’s capital for Bombers offensive co-ordinator Tommy Condell. Condell parted ways with the Redblacks in the off-season and subsequently joined Winnipeg after Ottawa hired Ryan Dinwiddie. Condell stated that he is not treating this game as an opportunity to make a statement against his former team, viewing it with the same competitive spirit as any other matchup.

The Bombers are off on Thursday and will conduct a closed practice on Friday before travelling on Saturday. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-2) will visit the Ottawa Redblacks (0-5) on Sunday, July 19.

Source: winnipegfreepress.com