Checking Down: Energy in the air as camps get under way

TORONTO — From last-minute roster changes to Johnny Manziel’s first taste of the three-down game, there was plenty of excitement as all nine teams took the field on the first day of training camp.

Thus begins the six-month journey to the 106th Grey Cup in Edmonton, and while it’s a marathon, not a race, the next couple of weeks mean plenty for the teams and players embarking on their 2018 goals.

What’s the latest on Terrence Toliver and Maurice Leggett? And how will the Bombers deploy Nic Demski?

CFL.ca is Checking Down on the latest and greatest of all nine CFL camps:

Jump to team:

BC LIONS

Jovan Olafioye is back in his familiar orange after quickly moving from Montreal to BC (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– It took Jovan Olafioye no time at all to find a new team following his release, re-joining his former club the BC Lions (CFL.ca).

– What does the last-minute addition of Olafioye do for the Lions’ O-line? For Ed Hervey, it’s a no-lose situation (CFL.ca).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

John White is one of three veteran running backs recently released by the Esks (Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca)

– It appears the Eskimos like what they’ve got in their young American backs this spring, as LaDarius Perkins and John White have been released (CFL.ca).

– In what’s expected to be a heated position battle this camp, 23-year-old Chauncey Briggs is getting a look at left tackle for the Eskimos (Dave Campbell, CHED).

– After missing training camp last year, 2017 first-round pick Nate Behar is getting starting reps for the Esks on the first day of camp (Dave Campbell, CHED).

– The Esks have added another Canadian receiver to the mix, signing former Ticats pass-catcher Giovanni Aprile (CFL.ca).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Dave Dickenson is ready to lead the Stamps in his third season as a CFL head coach (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– After recording nine sacks in 10 games last season and then signing an extension, Ja’Gared Davis is opening camp on the Stampeders’ suspended list to attend his daughter’s graduation (CFL.ca).

– Are the Stamps kicking the tires on recently-released running back John White? Dave Dickenson wouldn’t commit either way (Danny Austin, Calgary Herald).

– Former Stamps receiver Marquay McDaniel says he hasn’t filed his retirement papers yet, but plans to do so soon (Farhan Lalji, TSN).

– The Stamps’ running back competition continues to heat up, with the team bringing back international Dominique Williams (CFL.ca).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Absent from Riders’ training camp, Trent Richardson has been placed on the suspended list (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– Riders fifth-round draft pick Mathieu Breton is getting a look on the offensive line from Chris Jones in camp (John Hodge, 3 Down Nation).

– National receiver Jake Harty has gone down with an apparent right knee injury and was struggling to put weight on it (Jamie Nye, CFL.ca).

– Terran Vaughn is taking the majority of reps at left tackle, in one of the key position battles at Riders camp (Jamie Nye, CFL.ca).

– The Riders’ running back situation became a little less jumbled, after Cameron Marshall was released and Trent Richardson was placed on the suspended list (CFL.ca).

– Chris Jones says that Marshall failed his physical, while offensive lineman Josiah St. John was injured just before camp (Jamie Nye, CFL.ca).

– After retiring from the NFL, former Rams and Jets running back Zac Stacy has been added to the Riders’ running back fold and could be one to watch in camp (CFL.ca)

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Not lost in the Johnny Manziel drama was the signing of star linebacker Adam Bighill (CFL.ca)

– It’s expected that newly-signed linebacker Adam Bighill will make his first appearance in camp either Tuesday or Wednesday in Winnipeg (John Hodge, 3 Down Nation).

– While Mo Leggett is easing his way into action, Chandler Fenner is getting most of the reps at SAM linebacker for the Bombers (Darrin Bauming, TSN 1290).

– Bighill’s addition immediately addresses an area of need for the Bombers’ defence, especially following the departure of Sam Hurl (Ted Wyman, Winnipeg Sun).

– The Bombers have transferred international receiver Chris Givens to the suspended list after he failed to report to training camp this weekend (BlueBombers.com).

– After the best season of his career, Andrew Harris has been rewarded with a contract extension through 2020 (CFL.ca).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

– Terrence Toliver is present but not practising on the first day of training camp as he recovers from a torn ACL (Drew Edwards, 3 Down nation).

– While all eyes were on Johnny Manziel at his first practice, the Ticats’ new pivot didn’t take a snap during the team’s only competitive skeleton session (Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca).

– Mariel Cooper was taking most of the reps for the Ticats at SAM linebacker before leaving practice with an apparent injury (Drew Edwards, 3 Down Nation).

– CFL.ca’s Davis Sanchez went 1-on-1 with Manziel after his first practice in the CFL (CFL.ca).

– More than 200 fans were in attendance for Manziel’s first look in a Ticats uniform on Sunday at McMaster University (CFL.ca).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

There are some questions in Argos’ camp, but not under centre as the veteran Ray returns (Stacey White/Argonauts.ca)

– The Argos had one last chance to celebrate before opening camp, receiving their Grey Cup rings on Friday (CFL.ca).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Rick Campbell looks to lead Ottawa to a third Grey Cup appearance in four years (Chris Hofley/Ottawa REDBLACKS)

– The REDBLACKS have brought in veteran safety Dan West as the team kicks off training camp Sunday (CFL.ca).

– With Day 1 in the books the REDBLACKS feel they’ve gotten off to a fast start in training camp (CFL.ca).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

The Alouettes’ quarterback competition will take centre stage as training camp kicks off (MontrealAlouettes.com)

– The Montreal Alouettes will have a new starting left tackle this year after releasing Jovan Olafioye one year after trading for him (CFL.ca).

– With Olafioye out, the Als are left with questions at the offensive tackle position. Who will fill the void in Montreal? (CFL.ca).

– The Als made a handful of transactions as camp kicks off, including the release of Adrian Clarke and Shaq Murray-Lawrence (CFL.ca).