Blue Bombers Find Potential Star in Rookie Chris Smith Following Impressive Preseason Performance

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers may have discovered the talent they’ve been searching for in Chris Smith.

Smith made a significant impact during the Bombers’ final preseason game, positioning himself as the front-runner for the team’s next kick returner. The 24-year-old rookie stood out with an impressive performance, especially when he returned a punt 109 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter. This play gave the Bombers their first lead of the night, although they ultimately lost to the Calgary Stampeders, 31-10, at Princess Auto Stadium on Friday night.

Smith expressed his excitement after the game, highlighting how this was his first punt return touchdown since high school. “All week, all camp I’ve just been waiting for an opportunity, and the Lord finally blessed me with it,” Smith said. “That definitely felt amazing.”

Smith’s touchdown run showcased his speed and agility, as he navigated from the one-yard line, found a gap, and sprinted down the right sideline to outpace the defenders. He finished the game with 113 yards on two punt returns and an additional 23 yards on his lone kickoff return.

While the touchdown didn’t secure a win for the Bombers, it boosted the morale of the team. Quarterback Terry Wilson praised Smith’s effort, calling it “electric” and acknowledging the momentum it provided. “Chris is a smart guy, he works hard. That was a great run. I didn’t know he could do that; I didn’t know he could return kicks. So, that was awesome,” Wilson said.

With the departure of Janarion Grant, the Bombers have been seeking a new returner. Smith, along with Aron Cruikshank, Myron Mitchell, and Josh Vann, are competing for the spot. However, none matched Smith’s performance that night. Smith, originally a running back, understands that excelling as a returner is his best shot at securing a place on the team.

“That’s the job I want to win. If I can just keep doing that, I can win that job and just help this team get to where we want to be,” Smith said. “It would mean a lot. After not playing football, getting released by Seattle, not being in a training camp last year, it meant a lot.”

Smith’s journey has been challenging. After a successful college career as a kick returner at Louisiana at Lafayette, he spent part of last year with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks but was cut before the regular season. He was also drafted by the San Antonio Brahmas in the 2023 XFL Rookie Draft but was released before training camp.

“I basically had a year off and was questioning what I was going to do with my life,” Smith said earlier in training camp. “I started coaching at a private school, I did 11-man football and eight-man. It was a good experience, but I talked to my wife and God blessed me with the opportunity to be here. It’s been great, not much of a change other than the rules. It’s a fun football league to be in, I love it.”

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea was impressed with Smith’s performance and particularly the return touchdown. O’Shea has been looking for a standout returner, and Smith’s play caught his attention.

When asked if one play could be enough to make the team, O’Shea responded, “That’s an interesting question. The answer is, absolutely yes. Because that one play could be a breakup of a 10-10 tie. Anytime you create a monstrous play like that, you certainly want to make sure you have the rest of the evaluation. But that was excellent. What a good return.”