BC Lions defeat Winnipeg Blue Bombers 30-19 in preseason finale

In their final preseason tune-up before the 2026 Canadian Football League regular season kicks off, the BC Lions secured a solid 30-19 road victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday night. With both teams using the exhibition matchup to finalize their rosters, the game served as a critical final audition for depth players and rookies.

Key Takeaways & Highlights

Lions’ Offense Clicks
The Lions offense found a rhythm, with quarterback Chase Brice putting together a strong performance under center, completing 9 of 11 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Starting quarterback Nathan Rourke also saw some playing time, completing 6 of 8 passes for 99 yards. Receiver Nick Cenacle was a focal point in the passing attack, hauling in four passes for 111 yards, including two touchdown catches that helped keep the chains moving.

Bombers Rest Their Stars
Winnipeg head coach Mike O’Shea opted to rest a large portion of his veteran core, including starting quarterback Zach Collaros and star running back Brady Oliveira. This decision allowed younger prospects to shine, although the absence of key starters in the defensive line and secondary was noticeable.

Winnipeg’s QB Battle
With Collaros sidelined, the Bombers split quarterback reps between rookie Taylor Elgersma and veteran Bryce Perkins. Elgersma completed 11 of 20 passes for 127 yards, while Perkins added 36 rushing yards and a touchdown. Both quarterbacks showed flashes of potential but struggled to keep pace with the Lions‘ scoring output.

Final Roster Push

Following the game, both teams faced a quick turnaround to make their final roster cuts by the Saturday night deadline as they transition into regular-season mode. The Lions and Bombers will now shift their focus to their respective Week 1 matchups as the 2026 CFL regular season officially kicks off.