Checking Down: REDBLACKS to split game between Davis and Collins

TORONTO — Rick Campbell announced that QB Trevor Harris will be a healthy scratch for Friday’s game against the Argonauts. The REDBLACKS coach will elect to rest his starter and not take any risks, starting Dominique Davis instead. It’s also reported that QB Danny Collins will receive a half of playing time.

The Blue Bombers are reportedly getting some player input on whether or not they start Matt Nichols for their Saturday game in Edmonton. Head coach Mike O’Shea said it will be his decision in the end, however.

Also, all nine of the CFL’s teams released their yearly nominees for the Shaw CFL Awards, which marks the first round of voting before the nominees get narrowed down to their divisional nominees ahead of the awards show, which will be held during Grey Cup Week in Edmonton.

All this and more in the latest from Checking Down:

Jump to team:

BC LIONS

– HC Wally Buono reportedly is hoping to get Jonothan Jennings some playing time on Saturday versus Calgary. Travis Lulay started practice with the starters. (Lowell Ullrich, TSN 1040)

– Kicker Ty Long earns himself both BC’s player of the year and special teams honours after the first round of CFL Award balloting gets released. (Lowell Ullrich, TSN 1040)

– LB Solomon Elimimian is still in rehab mode and not a full participant at practice. (Lowell Ullrich, TSN 1040) 

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

Mike Reilly earns himself Edmonton’s Most Outstanding Player nomination as team’s release their list of player awards. (The Canadian Press)

– QB Mike Reilly earns unanimous Most Outstanding Player honours as Edmonton releases their CFL Award nominees. (Dave Campbell, CHED) 

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

– Five out of the six player award nominees were unanimously chosen as the Stampeders release their team award list, headlined by Bo Levi Mitchell as Most Outstanding Player. (Danny Austin, Calgary Sun) 

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

HC Chris Jones reported following his team’s win over the Lions that QB Zach Collaros ‘should be fine’ after leaving the game early. (Jason Halstead, CFL.ca)

– Willie Jefferson and Brett Lauther both earn double nominations as the Roughriders release their list of team nominees for the CFL Player Awards. (Riders Staff)

– Roughriders tie CFL record for most defensive touchdowns in a single season thanks to the two they scored against the BC Lions on Saturday, bringing their season total to 12. (Ian Hamilton, Riderville.com) 

– Following their win over BC, HC Chris Jones says QB Zach Collaros ‘should be fine’ following a hit that sidelined him for the remainder of the game. (Taylor Shire, Global Regina)

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

– HC Mike O’Shea is looking for input from some of his players on whether the Bombers should start QB Matt Nichols in their final regular season game or let him rest ahead of the playoffs. O’Shea says ultimately it will be his decision in the end. (Darrin Bauming, TSN 1290)

– Adam Bighill earns himself Most Oustanding Player and Defensive Player of the Year honours for the Blue Bombers as the team rolls out their CFL Award nominees. (Darrin Bauming, TSN 1290) 

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

– Hamilton releases their list of CFL Award nominees, headlined by QB Jeremiah Masoli for Most Outstanding Player. (Ticats Staff)

– QB Jeremiah Masoli did not practice on Tuesday for the Ticats. HC June Jones said he was dealing with a ‘bum knee’ but is expected to return to practice on Wednesday. (Louis Butko, TSN 1150)

– Taking to social media, wrestling legend Ric Flair announces he will be in attendance at Tim Hortons Field when the Ticats host the Eastern Semi-Final game. (Ticats Staff) 

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

The Toronto Argonauts release their list of player award nominees, including Sean McEwen, who received double nominations as Most Outstanding Lineman and Canadian. (Adam Gagnon, CFL.ca)

– Offensive lineman Sean McEwen earns double nominations for the CFL Awards as the Argonauts release their 2018 team nominees. (CFL Staff)  

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Rookie sensation Lewis Ward kicked his way to be nominated at Ottawa’s Most Outstanding Rookie and Special Teams player for 2018. (Adam Gagnon, CFL.ca)

– HC Rick Campbell announces nearly half of the team’s starters will be sitting for the REDBLACKS final regular season game against the Argos. (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun)

– Kicker Lewis Ward unanimously earns himself REDBLACKS’ nominations for Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player of the Year awards. (REDBLACKS Staff)

– Dominique Davis and Danny Collins will both each play a half of football against Toronto with QB Trevor Harris being sat. (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun)

– The REDBLACKS announce a series of player releases on Wednesday morning, parting ways with DBs Zed Brown and Tafon Mainsah, national LBs Drew Morris and Daniel Tshiamala and LB Marcus Porter. (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun) 

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

With his performance this season, LB Henoc Muamba has earned himself triple nominations as the Alouettes announced their player award nominees for 2018. (Jimmy Jeong, CFL.ca)

– LB Henoc Muamba receives three Outstanding Player nominations for the CFL Awards as the Alouettes release their list of yearly nominees. (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette)

– The Alouettes announced on Wednesday that they have released a series of players from their roster, including Willie Mays and Maxime Latour. (Alouettes Staff)

– After suffering a bruised hand, QB Johnny Manziel did not practice on Tuesday. (Didier Ormejuste, RDS)

– Montreal has given contract extensions to quarterbacks Vernon Adams Jr., Antonio Pipkin, and Jeff Mathews. (Alouettes Staff)