May 24, 2017

Rookie camps open as QBs, 1st-year players report

Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

TORONTO — Another step towards opening kickoff has arrived for CFL teams on Wednesday morning, as quarterbacks and first-year players across the country are reporting to camp.

Teams have the option of opening training camp for non-veteran players, quarterbacks and veterans coming off season-ending injuries.

For teams holding a rookie camp this week, fans will now get a long-anticipated first glimpse of recent draft picks in their new uniforms as well as pivots around the league.

Full training camp for all nine CFL teams officially opens Sunday, May 28.

 

Among the top storylines will be under centre, where some quarterbacks hit the field with their new team while others battle for positioning on the depth chart.

The quarterbacks will be of particular interest in Montreal and Saskatchewan this week, where Darian Durant takes the field for the Als and Kevin Glenn and Vince Young fight for a starting job in Saskatoon for the Riders.

In Winnipeg, Matt Nichols heads into his first full season as a starting quarterback — he was the backup to Drew Willy going into camp one year ago — while the same goes for Trevor Harris in Ottawa following the retirement of Henry Burris.

Mike Reilly, Jonathon Jennings and Bo Levi Mitchell are three of the league’s top-ranked and uncontested starters in Edmonton, BC and Calgary but will also be ones to watch as early-season favourites to win Most Outstanding Player.

In Toronto, all eyes will be on Ricky Ray, a future Hall of Famer trying to rejuvenate his career with some oversight from Marc Trestman and Jim Popp, the new coach-GM duo at the helm.

As for the rookies, expect first overall pick Faith Ekakitie to be active for the Bombers along with second round pick and offensive lineman Qadr Spooner as the Bombers’ rookies hit the field along with Nichols.

 

While the regular season remains almost a month away, anticipation continues to mount for fans and players across the league while coaches continue preparing for that opening kickoff.

It’s not June yet but we’re only days away. Football is back and it’s time to get excited.

Training Camp Important Dates:

May 24, 2017 — Rookie camps open
Non-veteran players, quarterbacks and veterans coming off season-ending injuries are permitted to participate.

May 28, 2017 — Training camp officially opens
Teams are permitted to participate in training camp with 75 roster players in addition to 2016 CFL Draft picks; two additional national non-counters; and underclass national quarterbacks ineligible to sign a contract or play in a pre-season game as part of the QB Internship program, among others.

June 6, 2017 — Pre-season opens
The first game of 2017 kicks off with pre-season action between the BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders. Every team will play two pre-season games between June 6 and June 16.

June 17, 2017 — CFL rosters reduced to 46
Following a vote to eliminate the mid-camp cut-down date, expect a flurry of activity on June 17 as clubs must reduce their roster to 46 active players, excluding those on the 6-game injured list and those transferred to the one-game injured list, by 10:00 p.m. ET.

June 22 – 2017 Regular season kicks off
The season kicks off in Montreal as Duron Carter, Kevin Glenn and the Riders take on their former team and quarterback in the Als and Darian Durant.