Checking Down: News and notes as the off-season continues

TORONTO — Eight months after knee surgery, is it Brandon Rutely’s time to shine in the BC Lions backfield?

Veteran defensive back Matt Black has hung up his cleats and joined his former team’s front office staff.

Montreal Alouettes quarterback Antonio Pipkin is busy this off-season, training with newly-signed receiver DeVier Posey.

And how will Drew Wolitarsky fare in his third season in Winnipeg?

The off-season continues and we’ve got all the latest in this week’s Checking Down:

Jump to team:

BC LIONS

DeVone Claybrooks took in his first CFL Combine as a head coach this past weekend (Peter Power/CFL.ca)

– It may have been his first time at a CFL Combine as a head coach but DeVone Claybrooks isn’t feeling like a rookie evaluating talent in his new role (Matt Baker/BCLions.com).

– On paper the BC Lions appear to have one of the CFL’s most explosive offences. As Jim Morris writes, it’ll be up to Jarious Jackson to unlock that potential (Jim Morris, CFL.ca)

– Eight months after having surgery on his knee, running back Brandon Rutley is feeling good and ready to take on the 2019 season (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).

– Receiver Shaq Johnson joined Block Talk to chat about the CFL Combine, as he was in Toronto cheering on his brother Hakeem, and the new additions to the Lions’ offence including quarterback Mike Reilly (BCLions.com).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

Mic’hael Brooks joins the Eskimos defence after signing a deal with the team (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– The Eskimos have brought back national fullback Alex Dupuis, re-signing the 29-year-old to a new deal (CFL.ca).

– Edmonton has also boosted their defensive line, signing international defensive lineman Mic’hael Brooks (CFL.ca).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

After a year away, offensive lineman Derek Dennis is back in red and white and feeling right at home (CFL.ca)

– Derek Dennis returned to the Stampeders in 2019 after spending a season with the Roughriders and the offensive lineman says his return to Cow Town felt ‘like coming home again’ (Stampeders.com).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

The Riders have signed their 2018 first-round draft pick, Dakota Shepley (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– Prospect interviews are one of the most intriguing parts of the CFL Combine and CFL.ca’s senior writer Chris O’Leary sat in on them with the Saskatchewan Roughriders to see exactly what goes into each one (Chris O’Leary, CFL.ca).

– The Riders have inked offensive lineman Dakota Shepley, a first-round draft pick in 2018, to a two-year contract, plus an option year in 2021 (CFL.ca). 

– Zack Evans is the definition of homegrown talent, as Saskatchewan’s defensive lineman grew up in Northwest Regina and now takes the biggest stage in Riderville as a member of the Roughriders (Riderville.com).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Drew Wolitarsky had a breakout season in 2018 but where does he go from here? (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)

– Receiver Drew Wolitarsky describes his budding relationship with quarterback Matt Nichols as a marriage. He says that’s one of the reasons he had a breakout sophomore season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Jim Morris, CFL.ca).

– Prospect Jamel Lyles had his first taste of the CFL when he was just eight years old when he was given a pair of gloves by Andrew Harris (as a member of the BC Lions) during a game. Lyles now has a chance to play alongside his hero when he finds out where he lands after the CFL Draft on May 2. (Kristina Costabile, CFL.ca).

– With the CFL Combine in the books and the CFL Draft on the horizon, Bombers general manager Kyle Walters chatted with BlueBombers.com to get the latest scoop on the team (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

The Ticats and Argos game at BMO Field on June 22 has been rescheduled (Peter Power/CFL.ca)

– The Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts game on June 22 has been rescheduled to an earlier time after a plea from The Arkells, who wanted fans to attend their concert after the contest (CFL.ca).

– The Ticats have added three international free agents to their roster, signing offensive lineman Vinston Painter, and wide receivers Andrew Turzilli and Jaelon Acklin (Ticats.ca).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Matt Black has announced his retirement from the Canadian Football League (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– Defensive back Matt Black has hung up his cleats, announcing his retirement, but he’s not done with football just yet. Black has joined the Argos front office staff in a football operations and player relations capacity (CFL.ca).

– The Argos home opener on June 22 has been rescheduled to an earlier time after a plea from The Arkells, who wanted fans to attend their concert after the contest (CFL.ca).

– After announcing his retirement, Matt Black pens a thank you to the city that welcomed him with open arms (Argonauts.ca).

– Toronto has added Mike Lionello to the team’s coaching staff and he will serve as running backs coach this upcoming season (Argonauts.ca).

– Running back James Wilder Jr. was sent an invitation to tryout for the WWE, posting the news on Twitter. How would he fare in the crazy world of wrestling? (Josh Smith, 3DownNation)

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

REDBLACKS head coach is looking ahead and forward to the 2019 season (The Canadian Press)

– In an interview with TSN 1200, head coach Rick Campbell talked roster changes and the upcoming season as the REDBLACKS get ready to approach 2019 (TSN1200 via OttawaREDBLACKS.com)

– The REDBLACKS have signed two internationals, offensive lineman Collin Buchanan and defensive lineman Shaneil Jenkins (OttawaREDBLACKS.com).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Antonio Pipkin is putting in off-season work with one of his newest targets (MontrealAlouettes.com)

– Canadian quarterback Hugo Richards has always been around football, recalling his first memory of wearing a football uniform when he was just seven-years-old (MontrealAlouettes.com).

– Quarterback Antonio Pipkin and newly-signed receiver DeVier Posey were putting in off-season work this week as they get prepared for the upcoming season (Montreal Alouettes via Twitter).