The CFL has been hurt by injuries to key players in recent years.

The trend seems to be continuing early in the 2025 season.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers ruled out star running back Brady Oliveira late in the first half of their season opener against the B.C. Lions on Thursday after the CFL’s reigning most outstanding player and top Canadian suffered an upper-body injury.

Oliveira had two carries for 49 yards before he went to the locker room.

The Winnipeg-born Oliveira has been the league’s top Canadian the past two years while also leading the CFL in rushing in 2023 and ’24.

The Bombers were playing their opener after getting a Week 1 bye.

In Week 1, Ottawa Redblacks star quarterback Dru Brown suffered a hip injury that will keep him out of Friday’s game against the Montreal Alouettes.