GM says Blue Bombers have signed or are close to signing Turner and Denmark

WINNIPEG - With defensive lineman Bryant Turner and receiver Clarence Denmark signed or nearly there, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have locked down the last of the free agents they wanted to keep.

They've already lost defensive lineman Jason Vega to the NFL.

But general manager Joe Mack was surprised to find out last week the club has also likely lost linebacker Marcellus Bowman to injury.

Mack says there had been NFL interest in Bowman but that he and the team learned Bowman had a serious knee injury that required surgery and now he'll need many months to recover.

Mack says the Bombers are ready to let defensive back Deon Beasley and defensive lineman Fernand Kashama become free agents at deadline of noon ET on Friday.