The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed veteran Defensive Back Aaron Grymes to the practice roster.

The 33-year-old native of Seattle, Wa. had three different stints with the Edmonton Elks between 2013 and 2023, recording 240 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles, 12 interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one sack over 79 games. He was a key part of the team’s Grey Cup run in 2015 when he was named a CFL all-star, which led to a year-long NFL stint with the Philadelphia Eagles the following season.

The five-foot-eleven, 186-pound defender was also a member of the B.C. Lions in 2019 when he recorded 54 defensive tackles and one interception.

The University of Idaho product hasn’t appeared in a regular season CFL game since 2021 as he missed the past two years with a knee injury.

Through 95 total career games, Grymes has made 294 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles, 13 interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one sack.

 

Blue Bombers out to begin playoff push vs. Argonauts…

Winnipeg linebacker Adam Bighill knows the 2-5 Blue Bombers have a, well, big hill to climb to enter the playoff picture.

He also knows the only way to do it is by going 1-0 each week, starting with Saturday’s road game against a Toronto Argonauts squad with a quarterback quandary.

When he was a rookie with the B.C. Lions in 2011, Bighill’s squad started 0-5 before reversing course and winning the Grey Cup.

“A lot of teams talked about that mindset, but at the end of the day … you have to dig yourself out of a big hole and you have to flush everything behind you because it doesn’t matter,” Bighill told the Winnipeg Sun.

“Move forward with the right intentions and mindset of the team, of who you are and who you want to be. It’s really taking care of everything 6 inches in front of your face every single practice, every single meeting room, and every single game.”

 

Winnipeg dropped to 0-3 on the road with a 19-9 loss at Saskatchewan on July 19. The Blue Bombers’ attempts to rally against the Roughriders were thwarted by the 1-2 punch of penalties (six for 81 yards) and three turnovers.

Meanwhile, Toronto returns home after a 27-24 loss at the previously winless Hamilton Tiger-Cats last Saturday. The Argonauts fell behind 27-10 in the third quarter before mounting a late rally with backup quarterback Nick Arbuckle.

Toronto (3-3) has lost three of its last four games. Starting quarterback Cameron Dukes has struggled in that stretch, throwing just one touchdown pass and five interceptions since Week 2.

Quarterback Chad Kelly, the 2023 CFL Most Outstanding Player, is still serving a league suspension of at least nine games but could start practicing with the team soon, coach Ryan Dinwiddie told TSN.

“I assume the league would potentially allow him to practice before the suspension is lifted,” Dinwiddie said. “Player safety wise, the kid’s got to at least get out there and get going.”

Until Kelly’s return, Dinwiddie plans to use both Dukes and Arbuckle in a platoon system.

“I’m probably going to play both of them and we’ll go from there,” Dinwiddie said. “I believe in Cam, still do, but Nick, I have a comfort level with him, I’ve won some games with him, I’ve been around him a long time.”