Scouting the best of the Bombers’ next Five players to watch as pre-season kicks off in Saskatoon By: Taylor Allen Posted: 5:26 PM CDT Friday, May. 22, 2026

Don’t tell these guys that pre-season football doesn’t matter.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers play their first tune-up on Saturday when they meet the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon (6 p.m. CT kickoff, streamed live here).

Starters will use their limited snaps to knock off rust, but for those without cemented roles, this will be an important audition that could change the trajectory of their careers.

For the latter, starting dime back Redha Kramdi offers some advice.

“They’ll be anxious and stressed, but just focus on your assignment and be where you’re supposed to be,” said Kramdi earlier this week.

“And if there’s a play to be made, just make it — but don’t force yourself to make plays. When you try to do too much, that’s when you put yourself in bad situations. Go out there, play fast, play physical, and everything’s going to be alright.”

Here are some intriguing names to watch out for on game day.

---

QB Taylor Elgersma

No one’s crowning Elgersma as the next great CFL quarterback just yet. However, he has looked incredibly impressive throughout two weeks of training camp.

He’s got a cannon for an arm, makes quick decisions, and can fit passes into tight windows.

The Bombers might just have something in the 24-year-old Canadian out of Wilfrid Laurier.

But let’s pump the brakes for a second here. Excelling against soft coverage in training camp is one thing, but being able to do it against an actual opponent is a whole new ball game.

Elgersma, obviously, still has a lot to prove, but if he moves the ball down the field in Saskatoon with ease, the hype surrounding his potential will reach an even higher level.

The Bombers listed him as the No. 2 quarterback on Saturday behind Zach Collaros.

---

QB Bryce Perkins

And then there were three.

The Bombers started camp with five pivots and now they’re down to Collaros, Elgersma, and Perkins.

Quarterback Payton Thorne left the team earlier in the week, and in another unexpected development, third-year passer Terry Wilson was transferred to the suspended list Friday afternoon.

The depth chart for Saturday was released Friday morning and Wilson was initially third. The team did not provide any information on why Wilson is no longer on the roster.

With Elgersma outshining the rest of group (outside of Collaros), it seemed like Wilson, a third-year Bomber, and Perkins were destined to battle it out for the No. 3 gig.

Perkins — last year’s UFL MVP — now might’ve landed himself a job by default.

Still, a strong showing by the former Los Angeles Ram would go a long way. The 29-year-old has been inaccurate throughout training camp, but he has all the tools to be an ideal short-yardage quarterback.

The narrative around him could change if he steals the show against the Riders.

---

WR Christian Fredericksen

The Idaho State product is the only rookie pass catcher starting on Saturday.

The 24-year-old was out of football last year, but the 6-3, 209-pound target has popped in training camp with some impressive catches all over the field.

The Bombers could use some size at the position, too. The top three receivers — Ontaria Wilson, Nic Demski and Tim White — are all six-feet or shorter.

Fredericksen, who was discovered at a free agent tryout camp in Florida this winter, wasn’t on anyone’s radar on Day 1 of rookie camp but he can’t be ignored now.

---

DB Warren Burrell

With Demerio Houston, Terrell Bonds, Jamal Parker and Dexter Lawson all gone, the Bombers have an opening at corner for the taking.

Enter Warren Burrell.

Unlike your average American newcomer, Burrell grew up knowing all about the CFL thanks to Milt Stegall being a family friend.

Now Burrell, who is starting on Saturday, has a chance to make a name for himself in Blue and Gold just like Uncle Milt.

The 6-0, 195-pounder finished his college career at Georgia Tech before scoring an NFL mini-camp invite courtesy of the New York Jets.

The 25-year-old started nine games at corner as a senior and led the Yellow Jackets in passes defended and ranked second in pass breakups.

---

DB Ridge Texada

Burrell isn’t the only fresh face applying.

Texada will start at the opposite corner spot against the Riders with veteran Jonathan Moxey sitting out. The 24-year-old spent four seasons at North Texas before attending Philadelphia Eagles mini-camp.

He first arrived in Winnipeg last fall when he was a late addition to the practice roster, and now, the five-foot-eight, 187-pound defender is trying to make it full-time.

His family is well known to the Bombers as his older brothers, Ranthony and Raleigh, were previously under contract with the club. Ranthony signed with the Blue and Gold in 2020 but never played owing to the cancelled season, and Raleigh was on the team’s practice roster in 2022 before moving on to the XFL.

winnipegfreepress.com/taylorallen