In their final preseason tune-up before the 2026 regular season, the BC Lions secured a solid 30-19 road victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday night. With both teams using the exhibition matchup to finalize their rosters, the game served as a critical final audition for depth players and rookies.
Key Takeaways & Highlights
Lions' Offense Clicks: BC's offense found a rhythm, with quarterback Chase Brice putting together a strong performance under center to help guide the team to 30 points. Receiver Nick Cenacle was also a focal point in the passing attack, making several key plays to keep the chains moving.
Bombers Rest Their Stars: Winnipeg head coach Mike O'Shea opted to rest a large portion of his veteran core, including starting quarterback Zach Collaros and star running back Brady Oliveira. The defensive line and secondary were also missing several key starters, giving younger prospects a chance to shine.
Winnipeg's QB Battle: With Collaros in street clothes, the Bombers split quarterback reps between rookie Taylor Elgersma and veteran Bryce Perkins. Both pivots were looking to prove they deserve the backup job, managing an offense that showed flashes but ultimately couldn't keep pace with the Lions' scoring output.
Final Roster Push: Following the game, both front offices face a quick turnaround to make their final roster cuts by the Saturday night deadline as they transition into regular-season mode.
The Lions and Bombers will now shift their focus to their respective Week 1 matchups as the 2026 CFL regular season officially kicks off.