The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are resting most of their stars ahead of Saturday's game against the Montreal Alouettes.
Franchise quarterback Zach Collaros, star running back Brady Oliveira, wide receiver Ontaria Wilson, offensive lineman Stanley Bryant, defensive ends Willie Jefferson and James Vaughters, powerhouse linebacker Redha Krumdie and returner Trey Vaval were all placed on the one-game injured list. like healthy scratches.
Chris Streveler will start at quarterback and will be supported by Terry Wilson and Chase Artopoeous. The dual-threat passer has completed 63.9 percent of his pass attempts this season for 1,090 yards, six touchdowns and eleven interceptions as a 3-1 starter.
Matthew Peterson will start at running back, where he started two games in place of Oliveira earlier this season. Now that the league's current regular-season MOP is complete, Oliveira finished the year with 1,163 yards, 61 catches for 546 yards and three total touchdowns.
Cam Echols, a former Calgary Stampeders player, will start at boundary in Wilson's place, and Micah Vanterpool will start at left tackle in place of Stanley Bryant, an eight-time All-CFL player. Vanterpool made two starts at left tackle in July, in losses to the Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts.
Winnipeg is playing with an entirely new group of defenders as Jay Person, who was in uniform for 13 games and recorded one sack deep behind Jefferson and Vaughters, was promoted to the practice squad.
Matt Jaworski and Kidran Jenkins, both of whom joined the team earlier this month, will start at defensive end. Jaworski was a four-year standout at Fordham University, an FCS program based in New York, and Jenkins was named third-team All-Big Ten at Purdue University last season.
Jayden Woodby, who recorded 28 tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams as a rookie this season, will start in Crumdy's place at strongside linebacker. The six-foot-one, 234-pound Fontana, California native was a university student.
Peyton Logan, who was one of the team's best players in free agency, will handle return duties and Vaval will not be in the lineup. The former Stampeder has been excellent in the team's last six games.
The Blue Bombers can finish no higher than third and no lower than fourth in the West Division standings, meaning they will be on their way to playoff action next week regardless of the result against Montreal.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-8) host the Montreal Alouettes (10-7) on Saturday, October 25, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 pm ET. The Alouettes are coming off back-to-back wins over the Ottawa Redblacks.Bye The Blue Bombers pulled off an upset win over the depleted Saskatchewan Roughriders..
The weather forecast for Winnipeg calls for temperatures of up to 16 degrees and sunny skies. The game will be broadcast on TSN, RDS and CTV in Canada and CFL+ worldwide. Radio listeners can tune in to TSN 690 in Montreal and 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.
