Checking Down: Plenty of movement in Week 20

TORONTO — With the regular season winding down, there’s plenty of roster shuffling across the Canadian Football League in Week 20.

Jeremiah Johnson draws back into the lineup for the Lions, while the Alouettes are using their 2017 finale to get a sneak peak at a couple of their young pivots.

Out west, while the Bombers, Riders and Eskimos jockey for playoff positioning, there’s also a matter of getting healthy before the post-season kicks off.

All that and more in this week’s Checking Down:

Jump to team:

BC LIONS

After a week out, Jeremiah Johnson returns to the Lions’ lineup in Week 20 (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– After giving young running back Tyler Davis a look last week, the Lions will reinsert Jeremiah Johnson back into the lineup in their finale (Cam Tucker, Vancouver Province).

– Set to play his final CFL game, Marco Iannuzzi reflects on his seven-year career with the Lions along what’s next for him (Cam Tucker, Vancouver Province).

– With Wally Buono’s future still up in the air, the long-time Lions executive says clarity needs to come as soon as possible after the season (TSN 1040).

– One bright spot in a disappointing season has been Solomon Elimimian, who’s earned team nods for Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player (CFL.ca).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

– With Brandyn Thompson out for the season with a ruptured Achilles, Forrest Hightower is expected to fill the void at field half (Dave Campbell, CHED).

– After sitting in Week 19, SAM linebacker Kenny Ladler was back at practice for the Eskimos on Wednesday (Dave Campbell, CHED).

– It’s starting to feel a little like 2015 for the surging Edmonton Eskimos, who are once again the hottest team in the league with four straight wins (Terry Jones, Edmonton Journal).

– Mike Reilly is the Eskimos’ team MOP winner and a potential favourite to win league-wide honours in the end, but the Esks’ quarterback has something entirely different in mind (Gerry Moddejonge, Edmonton Journal).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

– While Roy Finch returns to the Stamps’ lineup, Marquay McDaniel is not listed on the depth chart this week and Ja’Gared Davis is staying in Houston to work out with a trainer there (Rita Mingo, Calgary Herald).

– Andrew Buckley is expected to make his first career start in Week 20, marking the first time since 1996 that two Canadian pivots have started in the same season (CFL.ca).

– It’s been a long wait for the Stamps’ top draft pick in 2017, Randy Colling, who is expected to see his first CFL action on the D-line (George Johnson, Stampeders.com).

– With team award nominations revealed on Wednesday, Alex Singleton became the first player since Doug Brown to receive three different nominations (CFL.ca).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

The Riders will be without Trent Richardson when they take the field in Week 20 (The Canadian Press)

– The Riders will be without Naaman Roosevelt, Trent Richardson, Cameron Marshall and Samuel Eguavoen against the Eskimos, while Marcus Thigpen will be activated at running back (Murray McCormick, Regina Leader-Post).

– After only playing three games last season, Brendon LaBatte is enjoying a strong 2017, capping it off with an anonymous selection for team Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman (Ian Hamilton, Riderville.com).

– While the quarterback carousel just keeps spinning for the Riders, Chris Jones insists the situation is fully controlled and operational (Ian Hamilton, Riderville.com).

– Which Roughrider has the best chance to win a major award come the end of November? Rob Vanstone breaks it all down (Regina Leader-Post).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

– Andrew Harris has run with the Bombers’ first-team offence in practice this week, while Dan LeFevour will make his eighth career start vs. Calgary (Bob Irving, CJOB).

– While usual starter Matt Nichols will sit the season finale, Mike O’Shea says there’s no doubt Nichols will be ready for the Western Semi-Final (Darrin Bauming, TSN 1290).

– After allowing more than 1,000 yards of offence the last two games, Richie Hall has some choice words to describe his Bomber defence (Paul Friesen, Winnipeg Sun).

– Matt Nichols and Andrew Harris have both enjoyed MOP-type seasons, but in the end it’s the quarterback getting the team nomination for the Bombers (CFL.ca).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

With their season finale coming Friday, the off-season focus turns to June Jones and Jeremiah Masoli (The Canadian Press)

– June Jones has engineered an impressive late-season run for the Ticats, but will the head coach get to see it through in 2018? (Drew Edwards, Hamilton Spectator).

– Ticats long snapper Aaron Crawford will not return in 2017 after suffering a torn ACL — even though he finished the Ticats’ Week 19 loss on the injured leg. Kevin Malcolm has been signed to replace him (Drew Edwards, Hamilton Spectator).

– The Most Outstanding Player won’t likely come out of Hamilton this year, but the Ticats may just have the leading candidate for Most Outstanding Rookie (Jeff Krever, CFL.ca).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Corey Chamblin’s impressive season could make him a top candidate for a head coaching position (John Sokolowski/Argonauts.ca)

– After putting together a strong season with a new-look Argo defence, Corey Chamblin could be on the shortlist for any coaching vacancies this coming off-season (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

– Win or draw and the Argos are the East Division champions, something the team is well aware of going into a west coast trip to BC (Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun).

– While Ricky Ray has never won MOP in his storied career, there’s a strong chance he’ll be a finalist yet again this season (CFL.ca).

– Richard Leonard has gotten plenty of press in the Most Outstanding Rookie conversation, but James Wilder Jr. is creeping up fast after earning the Argos’ nomination (Jeff Krever, CFL.ca).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Trevor Harris fended off an injury to help the REDBLACKS win their Week 19 matchup (The Canadian Press)

– After an injury scare for Trevor Harris last weekend, it turned out to be a stinger for the REDBLACKS’ franchise quarterback, who will be good to go for the playoffs (Justin Dunk, 3 Down Nation).

– Diontae Spencer has a long way to go to catch Pinball on the all-time all-purpose yards list, but he’s already in the record book for his performance against the Ticats (CFL.ca).

– With team award nominees revealed, Greg Ellingson (MOP) and Alex Mateas (offensive lineman) are the headliners for the Ottawa REDBLACKS (CFL.ca).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Matt Shiltz will make his first career start when the Als visit the Ticats this weekend (The Canadian Press)

– In an Als season devoid of bright spots, Kyries Hebert and offensive lineman Kristian Matte each earned a pair of nominations following Wednesday’s announcement (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– The Alouettes’ quarterback carousel continues this week, with Matt Shiltz getting his first start and Antonio Pipkin expected to also play (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– Kavis Reed will use the season finale to evaluate his talent moving forward, with veterans Nik Lewis, Tyrell Sutton and potentially Gabriel Knapton expected to sit. Meanwhile, Canadian LB Nicolas Boulay has torn his ACL (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).