The CFL’s top-ranked defence just got better as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have agreed to terms with defensive back Winston Rose.
The 27-year-old recorded a league-high nine interceptions with Winnipeg in 2019 en route to being named a CFL all-star. He notched 58 tackles and a touchdown in 18 starts, helping lock down the boundary side of the secondary.
Rose spent the 2020 season as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. He was elevated from the practice roster for two games, though he did not participate in either contest. He returned to the team’s practice roster following training camp in 2021, though he was released on September 6.
The Blue Bombers won the Grey Cup for the first time in 29 years, beating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats by a score of 33-12 in the title game. Rose intercepted Saskatchewan Roughriders’ quarterback Cody Fajardo in the West Final and made 15 tackles during Winnipeg’s post-season run to a championship.
After spending brief periods with Toronto and Ottawa in 2017, the New Mexico State University product played all 18 games for B.C. in 2018, making 32 tackles and five interceptions.
After going unselected in the 2016 NFL draft, Rose signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Los Angeles Rams. He was released shortly after and inked a pact with the Indianapolis Colts. He played in three pre-season games with the Colts, making one tackle and defending one pass, but was released among final cuts.
