August 23, 2017

Checking Down: Who’s in and who’s out in Week 10?

TORONTO — Jerome Messam and Bo Levi Mitchell should be full systems go in Week 10, although the same can’t be said for Tyrell Sutton.

Also on the injury front, what’s the latest on defenders Dominique Tovell, Victor Butler and Taylor Loffler?

Finally, the Riders aren’t giving up on signing former NFL running back Trent Richardson just yet.

We check on the latest in this week’s Checking Down as Week 10 kicks off Thursday:

Jump to team:

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

BC LIONS

Jonathon Jennings aims for a breakout 2017 performance in Week 10 in Ottawa (The Canadian Press)

– Lions coach Wally Buono maintains that the decision to stick with Jonathon Jennings is about winning football games (Ed Willes, The Vancouver Province).

– While injured OL Kirby Fabien is expected to return to practice Wednesday, Cody Husband remains day-to-day for the Lions (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).

– Bryan Burnham and Nick Moore both expect to return to the Lions’ receiving corps this week in Ottawa (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

 

– For the wounded Edmonton Eskimos, John Chick will be the 70th different player to have dressed for at least one game this season (Terry Jones, Edmonton Journal).

– Injured 2017 fifth round draft pick Justin Senior has cleared NFL waivers and been reverted to the Seattle Seahawks’ injured reserve list (Bob Condotta, The Seattle Times).

– The Esks have gotten some good news on the injury front this week as Adarius Bowman, Adam Konar, Almondo Sewell, Arjen Colquhoun and Johnny Adams are all practising (Morley Scott, CHED).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

 

– While Bo Levi Mitchell is dealing with arm soreness, the Stampeders say they don’t believe it’ll hold him back (Kristen Odland, Calgary Herald).

– Also on the Stamps’ injury front, Dave Dickenson believes both Jerome Messam and Charleston Hughes will be available to play on Saturday (Daniel Austin, Calgary Sun).

– There’s a chance Josh Bell could be back in the lineup when the Stamps play Toronto on Saturday. Also back on the field: Deron Mayo, Dexter Janke and Adam Thibault (Kristen Odland, Calgary Herald).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Chris Jones says he’s more concerned with beating Edmonton than signing Trent Richardson (Riderville.com)

– Riders head coach/GM Chris Jones says he’s still hopeful Trent Richardson will sign with the Riders after negotiations reportedly hit a snag this week (CFL.ca).

– With Vernon Adams Jr. joining Kevin Glenn and Brandon Bridge in Regina, it’s a quarterback reunion for the Saskatchewan Roughriders (Arielle Zerr, CJME).

The Riders announced on Monday the signing of DL Royce LaFrance and the release of defensive back Mark Roberts (Murray McCormick, Regina Leader-Post).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Listed on the team’s depth chart, Taylor Loffler still has a chance to play this week (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– Kevin Fogg is slated to make his first start of 2017 for the Bombers at halfback while Tristan Okpalaugo makes his return to the Winnipeg defence for Thursday’s clash in Montreal.

– Coming off an emotional win over a previously-undefeated team, the Bombers are wary of what looks like a favourable Week 10 matchup in Montreal (Paul Friesen, Winnipeg Sun).

– While he’s on the team’s depth chart, Taylor Loffler hasn’t practised this week and may not play in Thursday’s contest (Paul Friesen, Winnipeg Sun).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Jeremiah Masoli replaced Zach Collaros in the second half of a Week 9 loss to Ottawa (The Canadian Press)

– There is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel for the Tiger-Cats who could still have Andy Fantuz back before the end of the year.  He told his hometown Chatham newspaper that he is “I’m planning to come back this year, probably in the next month or so.”

Fantuz has been out of action since last season as he rehabs from a knee injury that put him on the shelf during the final third of 2016 (Mark Malone/Chatham Daily News)

– Should the Ticats ride it out with Zach Collaros? That’s the debate heading into the bye week with Labour Day on the horizon (Jamie Thomas, TSN 1150).

– John Chick is out in Hamilton and after an 0-8 start, could other veterans follow? (Drew Edwards, The Hamilton Spectator).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

The Argos may have to wait a little longer for the return of injured end Victor Butler (Johany Jutras/Argonauts.ca)

– With Anthony Coombs out, Jimmy Ralph moves into the starting lineup for the Argos — just in time to play in front of his family and friends in Calgary (Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun).

– While Victor Butler and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah remain sidelined for the Argos, tackle Ken Bishop appears ready to return in Week 10 (Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

For REDBLACKS GM Marcel Desjardins, the victory in Week 9 came at a crucial time for his team (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)

– While the REDBLACKS believe they’re better than their 2-6-1 record indicates, they also understand they’re not yet where they need to be (Don Campbell, Ottawa Citizen).

– The REDBLACKS could be closer to seeing former draft pick Mehdi Abdesmad, who’s been released by the NFL’s Tennessee Titans (3 Down Nation).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Brandon Rutley has been the Als’ starting RB in practice this week (The Canadian Press)

Anthony Sarao fills in at middle linebacker for the Alouettes as Dominique Tovell (knee) goes on the six-game injured list (Didier Orméjuste‏, RDS).

– The Alouettes are confident that Sarao, who’s three inches shorter and 15 pounds lighter than Tovell, can step in and hold down the fort at middle linebacker (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

Brandon Rutley has handled the reps at running back for the Montreal Alouettes ahead of their Thursday night clash with Winnipeg (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).