Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca
TORONTO — A list full of roster activity seems to be evident as we near closer to the halfway point of the season.
Edmonton will be without their starting safety for a lengthy stretch of time, and the Lions see Jeremiah Johnson fall back to injury after their game against the Stamps.
Meanwhile, in Montreal, after a tough debut that saw Johnny Manziel struggle out of the gate against his former team, the Alouettes seem to be sticking with Manziel as he’s been practicing with the starters all week.
All this and more in the latest from Checking Down:
Jump to team:
| BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal |
BC LIONS
Travon Van and Chris Rainey may be splitting duties in the backfield with the re-injury to Jeremiah Johnson’s ankle. (The Canadian Press)
– Lions’ running back Jeremiah Johnson re-aggravated his ankle injury in practice on Monday. Likely that Chris Rainey and Travon Van split duties in the backfield on Thursday. (Lowell Ullrich, TSN 1040).
– Odell Willis is confident in the Lions’ ability to turn around their season following a strong effort against the undefeated Stampeders (Matt Baker, BCLions.com)
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Calvin McCarty will be providing the Eskimos with depth in the backfield as they look to be lining up without a backup to C.J. Gable on Thursday. (Geoff Robins, CFL.ca)
– After a week of practice, both defensive back Forrest Hightower and defensive lineman Mike Moore get activated from Edmonton’s injury list (Dave Campbell, CHED)
– Getting just one start and making three receptions for 42 yards, the Eskimos elect to release receiver Miles Shuler on Wednesday (Dave Campbell, CHED)
– After tallying four tackles in five games, Edmonton releases defensive lineman Gerald Rivers (Dave Campbell, CHED)
– Neil King and Adam Konar will miss Edmonton’s matchup with BC on Thursday after being placed on the team’s injury list (Dave Campbell, CHED)
– Running back C.J. Gable will be playing without a backup on Thursday after Jordan Robinson gets placed on the practice roster. Fullback Calvin McCarty will serve as depth. (Dave Campbell, CHED)
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
Kamar Jorden was named a CFL Performer of the Week after his massive video game-like numbers against the Lions in Week 8 (The Canadian Press)
– Calgary’s Komar Jorden gets named a CFL Performer of the Week after his five receptions for 185 yards and a touchdown against the Lions in Week 8 (Danny Austin, Calgary Sun) .
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Chris Jones has been actively looking for personnel to add to the Riders roster, including a former NFL superstar. (Scott Rowed, CFL.ca)
– The Riders sign defensive back Louchiez Purifoy a day after he was released by the REDBLACKS (Farhan Lalji, TSN)
– Riders’ Chris Jones works out NFL Hall of Fame receiver Terrell Owens weeks after the Eskimos removed him from their negotiations list (Stephen Hargis, Times Free Press)
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
Moe Leggett doesn’t look to be practicing with the Bombers this week as a result of an injury. (BlueBombers.com)
– Defensive back Chandler Fenner is on the verge of a return after practicing with the team on Tuesday. He’s missed the last three games. (Darrin Bauming, TSN 1290)
– Following the Bombers bye week, Moe Leggett is expected to miss Winnipeg’s game against the Ticats in Week 9 (Darrin Bauming, TSN 1290)
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
– Ticats place defensive lineman Justin Vaughn on the six-game injury list after being injured late in Hamilton’s win on Friday. Hamilton activates 2018 draft pick Brett Wade as his replacement. (Drew Edwards, 3 Down Nation)
– Defensive lineman Adrian Tracy wasn’t practicing with the team on Monday. Could look to see Julian Howsare getting the start at end if Tracy isn’t ready. (Drew Edwards, 3 Down Nation)
– to make up for the absence of Nick Shortill, the Ticats signed national linebacker Dillon Grondin to the practice roster. (Drew Edwards, 3 Down Nation)
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
McLeod Bethel-Thompson and S.J. Green were named CFL Performers of the Week after their comeback performances versus Ottawa. (Adam Gagnon, CFL.ca)
– Both QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson and REC S.J. Green are named CFL Performers of the Week for Week 8 after the Argos’ comeback victory over the Ottawa REDBLACKS (CFL Staff, CFL.ca).
OTTAWA REDBLACKS
Rick Campbell is still looking for his secondary to find that ‘sweet spot’ in their performance. (Walter Tychnowicz, CFL.ca)
– The REDBLACKS release defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy after being among the top free agents in the offseason (REDBLACKS Staff, OttawaRedblacks.com)
– After allowing 300 yards through the air, the REDBLACKS are still in search of that ‘sweet spot’ when it comes to their secondary (CFL Staff, CFL.ca)
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
The Alouettes elect to stick with Johnny Manziel as their starting quarterback. (Johany Jutras, CFL.ca)
– Johnny Manziel appears to maintain the starting quarterback job as he leads the starting offence of the Alouettes at practice this week (Matthew Scianitti, TSN)
– QB Vernon Adams Jr. suffered an apparent foot injury late in his team’s loss to the Ticats on Friday and was not at practice on Tuesday (Matthew Scianitti, TSN)
– Veteran defensive lineman John Bowman suffered a torn bicep in Montreal’s Week 8 game versus Hamilton while pursuing the Ticats’ QB. He has not been at practice this week. (Matthew Scianitti, TSN)
