Checking Down: Bowman to sit Week 5

TORONTO — Adarius Bowman and Tyrell Sutton are two stars unlikely to play this week, while the REDBLACKS are juggling their defence on a short week.

That and plenty more as the new week in the CFL kicks off a day early. We check on the latest in this week’s Checking Down:

Jump to team:

BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal

BC LIONS

It appears that Jonathon Jennings’ injury will not keep him sidelined long term (David Chidley/CFL.ca)

MRI results on Jonathon Jennings’ injured shoulder have come back negative, according to Farhan Lalji. Despite avoiding a major injury, Jennings remains week to week (Farhan Lalji, TSN).

– With Jennings out, the Lions will only dress two quarterbacks in Week 5 but are expected to add Jake Heaps to their practice roster early next week (Farhan Lalji, TSN).

– Bombers quarterbacks coach Buck Pierce says he’s using Lulay’s effort off the bench last week as a teaching moment on patience, leadership and preparation (Jeff Hamilton, Winnipeg Free Press).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

Adarius Bowman will not be available for the Eskimos’ Week 5 matchup in Hamilton (Esks.com)

– Eskimos slotback Adarius Bowman did not practise Tuesday and will miss Thursday’s game with an injury. The Esks have also placed LB Adam Konar on the six-game injured list (Gerry Moddejonge, Edmonton Journal).

– It was Brock Ralph’s daughter, Oakley Ralph, who inspired Adarius Bowman to help her along with others to face their hurdles by creating ‘Adarius 4 Autism’ (TSN.ca).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Stamps receiver Reggie Begelton has returned to the team ahead of Week 5 (David Moll/Stampeders.com)

– Released after being injured in pre-season, Reggie Begelton surprised Stampeders players Tuesday when he walked into the team’s locker-room unannounced. Begelton is healthy and back on the team (Paul Mawdsley, Stampeders.com).

– While the timing hasn’t worked out for Jerome Messam and Roy Finch, the Stamps should finally have their running back duo intact for their Week 5 matchup (Max Campbell, Stampeders.com).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Chris Jones is getting his team set for a major test against the Stampeders (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)

– With closed practices in Saskatchewan and Calgary, the Stamps-Riders rivalry is hot heading into their first clash of 2017 (Rob Vanstone, Regina Leader-Post).

– The Riders boast the CFL’s top-ranked offence heading into Week 5 (tied with Edmonton), and if you ask around, no one’s played a bigger role than Kevin Glenn (Ian Hamilton, Riderville.com).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Kevin Fogg is inching towards a return to the Bombers’ lineup (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)

– Kevin Fogg has returned to Bomber practice for the first time since leaving Week 1’s victory with an injury (Jeff Hamilton, Winnipeg Free Press).

– It appears that slotback T.J. Thorpe will draw into the Bombers’ starting lineup this week, replacing L’Damian Washington (Ken Wiebe, Winnipeg Sun).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Kent Austin and Zach Collaros hope to get the ‘Cats back in a groove in Week 5 (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)

– According to Justin Dunk, the CFL is looking more like a realistic option for Johnny Manziel. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats hold Manziel’s rights (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

– On a short week, the Ticats make some subtle changes to their secondary as Will Hill returns to the SAM linebacker spot while Keon Lyn moves to boundary corner (Steve Milton, 3 Down Nation).

– Ticats head coach Kent Austin has refuted a report that there’s any tension between himself and quarterback Zach Collaros (Ted Wyman, Calgary Herald).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Martese Jackson will no longer fly under the radar as the Argos’ primary return man (The Canadian Press)

– Larry Taylor, Chad Owens and, now, Martese Jackson. It’s fair to say Jim Popp has an eye for finding game-changing kick returners (Mike Hogan/Argonauts.ca).

– For Argos linebacker Bear Woods and General Manager Jim Popp, their 2017 reunion was a no-brainer. Woods has since become a defensive leader for the Boatmen (Ryan Wolstat, Toronto Sun).

– It was only two years in Double Blue for Doug Flutie, but perhaps the best two years anyone could imagine. That’s why Flutie has been added to the list of All-Time Argos (Ryan Wolstat, Toronto Sun).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Antoine Pruneau will slide over to SAM for Wednesday’s game vs. the Als (Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca)

– Injuries to Nick Taylor and Khalil Bass have led to some changes on Ottawa’s defence, including Antoine Pruneau moving to SAM and Adam Berger starting at safety (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).

– While most of the metrics reflect positively on the REDBLACKS, the glaring exception is the turnover department. Ottawa’s defence is stressing the importance of forcing more turnovers this week (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

 

– The Alouettes are hoping that Ernest Jackson’s clutch highlight-reel catch vs. Calgary is the catalyst the offence needed (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– While Tyrell Sutton is still listed on the Als’ depth chart, Didier Orméjuste reports that he will be a scratch vs. the REDBLACKS as Brandon Rutley gets the start (Didier Orméjuste, RDS).