Big Blue sign slotback Demski, DB Darby Jr.

By: Staff Posted: 5:45 PM CST Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced the signing of two key contributors, slotback Nic Demski and defensive back Alden Darby Jr.

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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced the signing of two key contributors, slotback Nic Demski and defensive back Alden Darby Jr.

Both players were due to become free agents on Feb. 14.

A homegrown Winnipegger, the 29-year-old Demski signed a three-year extension will be entering his fifth season with the club.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Bomber slotback Nic Demski signed a three-year extension as he enters his fifth season with the football club.

The University of Manitoba product began his CFL career in 2015 as a first-round (sixth overall) draft pick with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

He first signed with Winnipeg as a free agent in 2018 and is coming off a career years in 2022 despite missing five games. Demski finished 2022 with 64 receptions for 772 yards and 10 touchdowns and was subsequently was named the club’s Most Outstanding Canadian Player for a second straight season.

He was also named to the West Division all-star team.

In his four seasons with the Blue Bombers, Demski has 215 receptions for 2,523 yards and 20 touchdowns, while adding 633 rushing yards and four majors.

Darby, a 30-year-old native of Long Beach, Calif., signed a one-year contract extension.

The Arizona State product for what will be his third stint with the Blue Bombers.

Darby is a veteran of 66 regular-season games in the CFL, including 43 with the Toronto Argonauts, 10 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and 13 with the Blue Bombers.

Winnipeg has twice traded for Darby in two years, most recently acquiring him from the Tiger-Cats at the CFL trade deadline in 2022. He was first acquired by the Bombers in a trade with Toronto in July of 2021 and subsequently named a West Division all-star.

He had 34 tackles, one tackle for a loss and a pass knockdown in nine regular-season starts in 2021, before adding two tackles and a sack in the Western final win over Saskatchewan and six tackles, a pass knockdown and an interception in the Grey Cup victory over Hamilton.

Darby made two regular-season starts for the Blue Bombers last year after the trade and had six tackles before adding four more tackles and a sack in the post-season.