Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca
TORONTO — Two key defensive backs could be sidelined for the rest of the 2016 season, while the Stamps and REDBLACKS are getting healthier.
Plus, is Anthony Calvillo feeling some of the heat for a slow start in Montreal?
That and much, much more in the latest Checking Down:
Jump to team:
| BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal |
BC LIONS
Jovan Olafioye hangs on tight to his first career touchdown grab (The Canadian Press)
– The least likely of Jonathon Jennings’ nine targets in Week 4, Jovan Olafioye will never forget his first, and probably last, career touchdown grab (Mike Beamish, Vancouver Province).
– The Lions won their Week 4 matchup but were dealt with a major blow, as T.J. Lee is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a ruptured Achilles (Mike Beamish, Vancouver Province).
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Can Mike Reilly and co. get off to a faster start for the Esks in Week 5? (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– The Eskimos have won two straight but are dwelling on the negatives — much like any winning team would (Terry Jones, Edmonton Sun).
– Starting fast has been an issue for the Eskimos in all three games this season, something they hope to remedy in Week 6 vs. the Ticats (Gerry Moddejonge, Edmonton Journal).
– How good of a season is Mike Reilly having? He’s on pace for over 7,000 passing yards in 2016 (CFL.ca).
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
An injury to Joe West could open the door for others in Week 5 for the Stamps (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– With Dan Federkeil back in practice, the Stampeders had their five starting O-linemen on the field together for the first time since June 1 (Scott Mitchell, Calgary Sun).
– The Stamps should be well-rested and mostly rested after their bye week, but the rest of 2016 will be a grind (Scott Mitchell, Calgary Sun).
– Joe West has officially hit the six-game injured list, the Stampeders revealed on Wednesday (Calgary Stampeders).
– An injury to Joe West opens the door for Greg Wilson, who could get a chance to contribute vs. the Bombers in Week 6 (Scott Mitchell, Calgary Herald).
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
The Riders took the loss in Week 4 but avoided any serious injury to Darian Durant (The Canadian Press)
– The Riders fell to 0-3 last weekend, but fans should come away feeling mostly relieved thanks to some good news on Darian Durant (Rob Vanstone, Regina Leader-Post).
– While Durant has indeed returned to the practice field this week, he’s ‘unlikely’ to play Friday, Chris Jones told Rod Pedersen (Rod Pedersen, CFL.ca).
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
Drew Willy is still the guy in Winnipeg with Mike O’Shea standing behind him (The Canadian Press)
– Bombers receiver Ryan Smith will miss Week 5 and potentially more, while Johnny Adams and Sam Hurl will also remain sidelined (Kirk Penton, Winnipeg Sun).
– Fans in Winnipeg hoping for a quarterback change won’t get their wish, at least this week, as Mike O’Shea is standing behind Drew Willy (Kirk Penton, Winnipeg Sun).
– On the same topic, Bo Levi Mitchell and Dave Dickenson don’t see Drew Willy as the problem in Winnipeg, as the Stamps won’t be taking the Bomber pivot lightly in Week 6 (Scott Mitchell, Calgary Herald).
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
Brandon Banks is moving up the career return touchdowns list (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– With his ninth career return touchdown, Brandon Banks has moved into the top-five all-time in the CFL (Drew Edwards, Hamilton Spectator).
– Ticats head coach Kent Austin says it’s ‘extremely unlikely’ Zach Collaros returns this week vs. Edmonton (Drew Edwards, Hamilton Spectator).
– Even with Collaros nearing a return, more than 60 per cent of fans still tab Ottawa as the East Division favourite (CFL.ca).
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah’s season could be over after suffering a pectoral injury (David Chidley/CFL.ca)
– After a Week 5 loss, bad news turned worse for the Argos, who could be without starting defensive back Akwasi Owusu-Ansah for the remainder of the season (Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun).
– A slow start in 2016 has the Argos ranked dead last in offence, a rarity under Scott Milanovich. What’s holding that unit back? (CFL.ca)
OTTAWA REDBLACKS
Trevor Harris has only cemented his status as a top performer early in 2016 (The Canadian Press)
– It appears the REDBLACKS have weathered the injury storm in their secondary, as Forrest Hightower and Jerrell Gavins are back taking first-team reps (AJ Jakubec, TSN 1200).
– The REDBLACKS have added a two-year starting corner to their defence in former Alouette Mitchell White, who reportedly refused to take a paycut in Montreal (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).
– First round draft pick Jason Lauzon-Seguin could also be nearing a return to the lineup after being removed from the six-game injured list (Gord Holder, Ottawa Citizen).
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
No one can escape blame in Montreal, it seems, including the all-time leading passer (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– As the Als’ offence struggles out of the gate, is Offensive Coordinator Anthony Calvillo the one feeling the heat? (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).
– Bear Woods has missed some practice time and has a brace on his knee, but is expected to play vs. Toronto on Monday (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).
