Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
TORONTO — An opening week full of storylines and great football being played, some a few hours longer than others.
After some bad luck last season, has the injury big bit the Eskimos again early in 2018?
Speaking of the Esks, what are the odds the club can lure former NFL Pro Bowl receiver Terrell Owens north of the border?
Meanwhile, in Hamilton, the Ticats have brought back a familiar face to bolster their secondary as they continue their Alberta road trip.
All this and more in the latest from Checking Down:
Jump to team:
| BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal |
BC LIONS
A stronger, beefed up David Foucault could help improve the Lions’ O-line in 2018 (BCLions.com)
– After losing an interception to a penalty earlier, newcomer Garry Peters made the biggest play of the game in the Lions’ season-opening win (J.J. Adams, Vancouver Province).
– With 15 more pounds of muscle, offensive lineman David Foucault says he’s a different player in his second season in the CFL (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).
– While Jonathon Jennings is starting out low on the QB Index, the 25-year-old has the potential to rise quickly after a promising Week 1 performance (CFL.ca).
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Esks linebacker Adam Konar could be sidelined for the next little while (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– Terrell Owens playing in the CFL appears one step closer to becoming a reality, after the Eskimos reportedly added the 44-year-old to their neg list (Dave Naylor, TSN).
– The early-season injury bug has bitten the Eskimos again, as starters Adam Konar, Mike Moore and Tommie Draheim have been placed on the six-game injured list along with returner Jamill Smith (Dave Campbell, CHED).
– Forrest Hightower and Aaron Grymes are both likely to play in Week 2, but the same can’t be said for receiver Vidal Hazelton, who appears doubtful (Dave Campbell, CHED).
– Jason Maas says he’s excited to see a ‘more emotional’ C.J. Gable in Week 2 as the running back faces his former team for the first time (CFL.ca).
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
After a long road to recovery, Lemar Durant could make his return to the lineup in Toronto (CFL.ca)
– Lemar Durant is practising this week and could have a chance to make his 2018 debut in Week 2, while injured DB Ciante Evans and tackle Derek Dennis have also been active (Danny Austin, Calgary Herald).
– After an injury scare for Marken Michel, it appears the Stamps’ receiver will be fine and could even suit up on Saturday vs. the Argos (Danny Austin, Calgary Herald).
– Ricky Stanzi has gone from losing out on the second-string job to falling off the roster, after being released by the Stamps on Tuesday (CFL.ca).
– With a national conference call scheduled and a ‘Grey Cup rematch theme’, the Stamps know that questions about what happened last November are unavoidable (Danny Austin, Calgary Herald).
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
– Charleston Hughes makes an immediate impact with Riders as he tallies 100 career sacks (Ian Hamilton, Riderville.com)
– For the second time in his career Duron Carter is expected to start at corner for the Riders, as he fills in for the injured Nick Marshall (Dave Naylor, TSN).
– Marshall could miss considerable time for the Riders after reportedly undergoing surgery on his injured finger (Murray McCormick, Regina Leader-Post).
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
– New Bombers QB Mitchell Gale finds out about signing while at a rodeo (Judy Owen, National Post).
– While his status is still up in the air for Week 2, Maurice Leggett has been returning kicks in practice this week for the Bombers (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).
– Bombers backup Alex Ross is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a lower body injury, once again shuffling the team’s depth behind centre (Darrin Bauming, TSN 1290).
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
– Hamilton teeter-tottered their way against the Stamps after holding a narrow lead at halftime against the Stamps (Steve Milton, Hamilton Spectator).
– Is it time we start believing in Ticats’ starting QB Jeremiah Masoli? The recent numbers say yes (Jeff Krever, CFL.ca).
– The Ticats officially announced the signing of former all-star corner Delvin Breaux on Tuesday after three years with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints (CFL.ca).
– The remarkable perseverance of Delvin Breaux: ‘I should have died on that field‘ (Drew Edwards, 3 Down Nation).
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
Starters sitting during pre-season to blame for offensive rust in Week 1 loss. (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– Argos superfan’s adventures include warming feet under washroom dryer during a game in Winnipeg (Paul Attfield, The Globe and Mail)
– After barely playing any starters in pre-season, the Argos admit rust may have played a role in the team’s season-opening loss to Saskatchewan (Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun).
– Recent addition Abdul Kanneh appears set to make his Argos debut this week, as he fills in for the injured Qudarius Ford (Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun).
OTTAWA REDBLACKS
After shaking off a pre-season leg injury, Trevor Harris is ready to lead the REDBLACKS into 2018 (Chris Hofley/Ottawa REDBLACKS
– Sacks aren’t the only thing REDBLACKS’ Michael Wakefield is hoping on reeling in (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).
– Ottawa shuffling players around in preparation for Thursday’s matchup versus Saskatchewan (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).
– For REDBLACKS’ new defensive end A.C. Leonard, it’s only fitting that in his first game of the season he gets to face his former team (CFL.ca).
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
Antonio Pipkin is the latest quarterback on the way out the door for the Alouettes (Dominick Gravel/MontrealAlouettes.com)
– The Montreal Alouettes have released sophomore quarterback Antonio Pipkin along with receiver S.J. Haidara and running back Amir Carlisle (CFL.ca).
– With the Als paying homage to their 72-year history with a new logo every month of the season, Chris O’Leary takes dives into the Als’ unique new brand pivot (Chris O’Leary, CFL.ca).
– Drew Willy reflected on a tough Week 1 loss, stating the added importance of hitting on some long, explosive plays like the one to Chris Williams early on (TSN 690).
