TORONTO — All eyes will be on the Bombers this week as Andrew Harris, Ian Wild and Khalil Bass remain questionable to play in Week 13.
Plus, could Taylor Reed suit up this weekend against the team that just released him?
That and much, much more in the latest Checking Down:
Jump to team:
| BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal |
BC LIONS
Wally Buono and the Lions get a week off following three straight victories (Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca)
– Usually tough, Wally Buono also knows the importance of long-term durability as he makes sure his Lions are well-rested heading into the bye(Mike Beamish, The Vancouver Province).
– Jeremiah Johnson’s 9.9-yard average and 159 rushing yards vs. Montreal helped him earn Shaw Top Performer honours for Week 12 (BCLions.com).
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Derel Walker and the Esks look to get back in the win column in Week 13 (Walter Tychnowicz/CFL.ca)
– FB Calvin McCarty has been placed on the six-game injured list (Dave Campbell, CHED).
– The Eskimos lost in the Labour Day rematch, but one positive: a two-sack performance by newcomer Phillip Hunt (Gerry Moddejonge, Edmonton Journal).
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
With the release of Taylor Reed, Alex Singleton’s role has expanded (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– Once viewed as the future, Alex Singleton’s time is now after the Stamps released middle linebacker Taylor Reed (Scott Fisher, Calgary Herald).
– Normie Kwong was always true to himself. That was one of many sentiments that poured in at an emotional public memorial for Kwong this week in Calgary (David Bell, CBC News).
– On top of earning Shaw Top Performer honours, DaVaris Daniels has established himself as one of Bo Levi Mitchell’s go-to targets (Daniel Austin, Calgary Herald).
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Chris Jones and the Riders know they need to improve in short-yardage situations (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)
– Converting in short-yardage situations is something the Riders have struggled with not just in the Banjo Bowl but all season (Mike Abou-Mechrek, Regina Leader-Post).
– Khalif Mitchell’s time in Regina was short-lived, but Rob Vanstone says releasing him was the right move for the Riders (Rob Vanstone, Regina Leader-Post).
– It’s hardly a new narrative, but some of the white noise in Riderville has obscured incremental progress of the last few weeks (Rob Vanstone, Regina Leader-Post).
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
Andrew Harris’ status for Week 13 is up in the air after being injured vs. Saskatchewan (CFL.ca)
– Ian Wild, Khalil Bass and Andrew Harris did not practise on Tuesday or Wednesday but haven’t been ruled out for Saturday’s game vs. Toronto. Harris’ injury is not considered serious (Scott Billeck, Winnipeg Free Press).
– While the Bombers have rolled to a 6-0 record with Matt Nichols as the starter, Drew Willy isn’t buying GM Kyle Walters’ claim that Nichols is a better fit for the offence (Kirk Penton, Winnipeg Sun).
– Traded to the Bombers just moments after a career game and a win over the Ticats, T.J. Heath had a Sunday night he’ll never forget (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
Zach Collaros completed just over half his passes vs. the Argos (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)
– Although he was only sacked once, Zach Collaros seldom had a clean pocket against the Argos as the Ticats’ O-line shows signs of struggles (Steve Milton, 3 Down Nation).
– Blocked punts against the Ticats are rare, but suddenly they’ve had one blocked in each of their last three games (Steve Milton, The Hamilton Spectator).
– For the first time in eight years, the Ticats will host the Canadian Football Hall of Fame game vs. Montreal this week (Steve Milton, The Hamilton Spectator).
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
Drew Willy is getting a fresh start and a new opportunity after being acquired by the Argos (Argonauts.ca)
– Drew Willy isn’t going to be handed anything, but for Dan LeFevour to keep his job he’ll likely have to replicate is impressive Week 12 outing (Mike Ganter, Toronto Sun).
– He won’t be starting Saturday, but Drew Willy is already deep in the Argos’ playbook and looking to help in any way against his former team (Kirk Penton, Winnipeg Sun).
OTTAWA REDBLACKS
Trevor Harris and the REDBLACKS enter a pivotal point in their season in Week 13 (Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca)
– The Ottawa REDBLACKS have been fined for practising with an ineligible player — the second such instance for a CFL team this season.
– Taylor Reed could play against the team that cut him this weekend as he suits up for the Ottawa REDBLACKS (Tim Baines, Ottawa Citizen).
– Reed isn’t the only new addition for the REDBLACKS this week, who have also added former second round pick and OL T-Dre Player.
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
Rakeem Cato will face stiff competition vs. the Ticats in Week 13 (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– The frustrations of a losing season have carried over to the practice field for the Als, where tempers flared for Rakeem Cato and his receivers on Tuesday (Bill Beacon, The Canadian Press).
– Despite a loss to the Lions, the Als’ offence showed signs of life in Week 12 and will look to continue improving with Cato at the helm (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).
