WINNIPEG - Mike O鈥橲hea will field a revamped roster when the Blue Bombers host the Toronto Argonauts and try to end a three-game losing skid Friday.
Injuries factored into some changes, including one that has some fans scratching their heads.
Others, particularly in the secondary, are aimed at boosting performance after Winnipeg (3-3) lost 31-17 to Toronto (2-5) last week.
鈥淪ome were out of necessity and some are game planning with what Toronto has on their roster, what we have on our roster and how we think it fits and how you get matchups and stuff like that,鈥 Blue Bombers head coach O鈥橲hea said after Thursday's walk-through practice.
Chris Streveler will be under centre for Winnipeg after starting quarterback Zach Collaros left last week乌鸦传媒 game at halftime with a neck injury that乌鸦传媒 sidelined him for the rematch.
Nick Arbuckle gets his eighth start for the Argonauts. Chad Kelly is on the six-game injured list because of the serious leg injury he suffered in last year乌鸦传媒 CFL East Division final.
The change on Winnipeg乌鸦传媒 offence that's sparking questions from fans is the replacement for injured star slotback Dalton Schoen.
Kody Case filled in for Schoen last week, but Case was carted off the field with what appeared to be a leg injury.
Rookie Joey Corcoran from Montreal makes his first start at receiver. He乌鸦传媒 caught six passes for 36 yards in six games.
Third-year CFLer Gavin Cobb will back up the receivers, meaning healthy veteran wide receiver Dillon Mitchell has yet to get into a game this season.聽
The American was moved to the practice roster and unavailable to the media Thursday.
The former three-year Edmonton Elks pass catcher and kick returner was a big off-season acquisition for Winnipeg after inking a one-year contract that乌鸦传媒 been reported as worth $148,000, including a $63,300 signing bonus.
聽鈥淲hat you pay a player to get them here doesn鈥檛 guarantee them anything,鈥 O鈥橲hea said.
Mitchell has played slotback in his career, but O鈥橲hea sees him as a better fit a wideout now held by Keric Wheatfall.
聽鈥淪o do you move Keric Wheatfall to a position that he乌鸦传媒 not suited for either, or do you put guys where they鈥檙e not possibly going to thrive as well?鈥 O鈥橲hea asked.
The nuances of slotbacks using the waggle before the snap is different than wide receivers who usually run from a standing position, he said.
鈥淭hose type of ideas about, 'oh, he should be able to do this, he should be able to that,' it乌鸦传媒 not always the case,鈥 O鈥橲hea said.
Corcoran is playing because of his desire and willingness to block, get his hands dirty and play special teams, the coach added.
Winnipeg乌鸦传媒 secondary was shuffled for the rematch, including cornerback Marquise Bridges shifted to the practice roster and five-year dime back Reda Kramdi making his first CFL start at safety.
"We weren鈥檛 playing well, we weren鈥檛 good enough,鈥 was O鈥橲hea rationale for the changes.
Argonauts receiver Damonte Coxie is coming off a career-best 145 receiving yards with one touchdown off six catches last week.
The six-foot-three wide receiver often has a height advantage over his defenders.
鈥淚t乌鸦传媒 an advantage, but also I respect all of them over that side 鈥 tall or short,鈥 Coxie told reporters after a practice earlier this week.
Toronto won the turnover battle 7-1.
"I told them just because we had a win, we can鈥檛 have a false sense of confidence,鈥 Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. 鈥淲e built a little bit of confidence, but we鈥檝e got to have a great sense of reality.
"We鈥檙e 2-5 going against a team that乌鸦传媒 .500 and at their place and they play well.鈥
Streveler was optimistic heading into the game, even though one practice this week was cancelled because of poor air quality.
"We鈥檝e done enough this week to feel really good about our game plan and what we鈥檙e doing, with guys where they鈥檙e supposed to be, all that stuff,鈥 he said. 鈥淪o I feel good about it, guys feel good about it and we鈥檙e ready to play.鈥
LOPSIDED LOSSES
The Bombers have lost three consecutive games by more than 14 points for the first time since 2013.
ON A ROLL
Arbuckle has a seven-game stretch of starts with at least 240 yards passing and an eight-game run with at least one passing touchdown. He needs 36 yards to reach 10,000 career passing yards.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2025.