Winnipeg's Defensive Front Is Down Five Bodies, Not One

Of the seven non-participants on Tuesday's report, five are defensive linemen: Jake Ceresna (knee), Michael Fletcher (illness), Nuer Gatkuoth (foot), Matt Jaworski (elbow) and Tanner Schmekel (illness). That's 71 percent of the injury list concentrated in a single position group, which guts the four-man rotation and forces Winnipeg to either dress undersized or scrap its line games and stunts. Layer in Brady Oliveira (ankle, limited) and Jaylen Smith (hip, limited), and the 7-7 Bombers walk into an 11-3 Montreal team without the depth to absorb a pace-of-play test.