O’Shea to rest some starters for Bombers’ game against Als as playoffs approach

By Canadian Press on October 24, 2025.

WINNIPEG — Mike O’Shea doesn’t want to make the same mistake twice.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach is resting a number of starters for Saturday’s final regular-season game at home against the Montreal Alouettes.

“Years ago I think I made a mistake and didn’t enter a playoff game as fresh as we could have been,” O’Shea said after the team’s walk-through practice on Friday.

“So that’s part of what goes into it — the belief that healthy, fresh is ultimately important.”

Winnipeg isn’t dressing quarterback Zach Collaros, running back Brady Oliveira, offensive tackle Stanley Bryant and receiver Ontaria Wilson.

The defence will be without rush ends Willie Jefferson and James Vaughters, dime back Redha Kramdi and defensive back/kicker returner Trey Vaval.

Both teams have already clinched playoff spots, but their seeding will be determined by this weekend’s CFL games.

The Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats each hold 10-7 records. The Ticats host the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday and would clinch first place in the East Division with a win.

Winnipeg (9-8) could finish third or fourth in the tight West. Fourth place would mean crossing over to play in the East semifinal for the first time in franchise history.

The Calgary Stampeders (10-7) are in Edmonton Friday night, while the B.C. Lions (10-7) travel to Saskatchewan to take on the Roughriders (12-5) on Saturday.

O’Shea isn’t worried about his sitting starters being rusty for their first road playoff game since 2019.

“I just think that it’s some reps for a lot of guys, too, who could end up helping us,” he said.

Chris Streveler will start under centre for the Blue Bombers. Backup Terry Wilson will get some snaps determined by the flow of the game, O’Shea said.

Streveler’s last start in place of an injured Collaros was one fans who love passing will remember for all the wrong reasons.

Steveler only completed three of eight pass attempts for 54 yards with one interception in a 26-18 road win over the Ottawa Redblacks. He also rushed for 72 yards and one touchdown.

He was asked Friday if wanting to improve on that passing performance is motivating him against the Alouettes.

“We won the game,” Streveler said. “There’s always plays you want back. I didn’t play my best game, I don’t think anyone played their best game, but we won the game.

“I don’t use any of that for motivation. I work hard and all of us work really hard to be our best and you know it’s never going to be perfect, so you just want to go out there and put your best foot forward and have fun playing the game.”

The Ottawa victory was aided by Vaval’s franchise-record 128-yard missed field-goal return for a touchdown. He also helped field position with a 71-yard return off a missed field goal.

Now that Vaval is sitting out, Peyton Logan will take his place and play his third game of the season and first since the end of August.

Logan was Winnipeg’s big off-season signing, but the running back was hurt for the first nine games of the season and was also a healthy scratch.

“I just hope I do as good as Trey,” Logan said with a smile. “Man, he’s been doing spectacular this year.”

Vaval leads the league in punt-return yards (957) and is ranked fifth in kickoff-return yards (918). He’s also tops in missed field-goal return yards with 391, which set a Bombers record.

Montreal is riding a five-game win streak and has its regulars on the depth chart.

Alouettes head coach Jason Maas told reporters earlier this week there will be some game-time decisions, but not based on the outcome of the Hamilton game.

“It’s just going to be if they feel like they can go on game day, they’re going, and then from there we’re trying to win a football game,” he said.

He added quarterback Davis Alexander, who 11-0 as a starter, could have his playing time determined by the Hamilton game. It’s a decision that will be made with general manager Danny Maciocia.

“Will he play the whole game if it’s not for first place (in the East), I can’t answer that right now,” Maas said of Alexander.

RECORD-SETTING CROWD

It’s going to be another sellout of 32,343 fans at Princess Auto Stadium on Saturday, giving the Blue Bombers a franchise-first capacity crowd for every regular-season game.

The last club to sell out an entire season was Montreal, when it filled Percival Memorial Stadium from 2000-10. During that time span, the stadium held just over 23,400 fans.

Winnipeg is on a streak of 14 sellouts dating back to August 2024 and the West final.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2025.

Judy Owen, The Canadian Press