Checking Down: News and notes from Week 10

TORONTO — DeVier Posey was added to the active roster and returned to Alouettes practice this week.

Is Bo Levi Mitchell finally ready to take the field for the Stampeders?

Plus, a trade between the Argos and BC has Shawn Lemon ready to make an impact in his second stint in BC.

The latest news and notes from Week 10 in this week’s Checking Down:

Jump to team:

BC LIONS

– The BC Lions signed national defensive lineman David Menard on Tuesday (CFL.ca).

– The Lions acquired Shawn Lemon in a trade with the Toronto Argonauts, sending Davon Coleman and a conditional 2020 eighth-round draft pick to the double blue (CFL.ca).

– Shawn Lemon is optimistic about his return to BC, and feels he can make an immediate impact working under two familiar coaches (CFL.ca).

– The BC Lions opened Week 10 with a bang, trading Coleman and a pick to the Argos for Lemon, who they hope can help ignite the team’s pass rush (Chris O’Leary, CFL.ca).

– Despite the loss, did Mike Reilly and the BC Lions show signs of life in Week 9? CFL.ca ranks the pivots in this week’s QB Index (CFL.ca).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

A two-touchdown performance earned C.J. Gable Top Performer honours (CFL.ca)

–  The Edmonton Eskimos are 1-3 on the road so far this season and they’ll look to improve that record against the Toronto Argonauts on Friday (CFL.ca).

– Edmonton boasts one of the best defences in the league but that’s not the only thing the Eskimos have going for them (Pat Steinberg, CFL.ca).

– 150 yards from scrimmage and two major scores earned running back C.J. Gable Top Performer honours after Week 9 (CFL.ca).

– In roster news, the Esks have added National linebacker Christophe Mulumba-Tshimanga and National running back Alex Taylor to the active roster, National kicker Greg Hutchins to the practice roster and National fullback Tanner Green to the six-game injured list (Esks.com).

– Jovan Santos-Knox‘s stint on the six-game injured list is over but he hasn’t been practicing at all this week (Dave Campbell, 630CHED). 

– After trading for him last week, Christon Jones is living up to expectations as the Eskimos new return man (Gerry Moddejonge, Edmonton Sun).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Will Bo Levi Mitchell take the reigns for the Stampeders this weekend? (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)

– Bo Levi Mitchell, Don Jackson and Ka’Deem Carey were all participants at Stampeders practice on Tuesday (CFL.ca).

– The Stampeders added American defensive lineman Anthony Johnson to the team’s practice roster on Tuesday (Stampeders.com).

– In other roster news, Calgary released national offensive lineman Zack Williams bit he will stay with the team as he continues to rehab an injury (Stampeders.com).

– Despite leaving practice early on Tuesday, head coach Dave Dickenson said Cory Greenwood had some back stiffness but he’s ‘not expecting anything to be there’ (Danny Austin, Calgary Sun).

– LB Wynton McManis and Greenwood were absent from practice on Wednesday (Danny Austin, Calgary Sun).

– Nick Arbuckle was taking the vast majority of throwing reps at QB on Wednesday (Danny Austin, Calgary Sun).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Cody Fajardo and his Riders are on the bye this week following a weather-shortened win in Week 9 (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)

– Led by quarterback Cody Fajardo, the Saskatchewan Roughriders find themselves in the tight race for first in the West (Jamie Nye, CFL.ca)

– Speaking of Fajardo, the Riders pivot remains one of the most accurate passers in the CFL (Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

– Was a win over Calgary a season-defining moment for the Bombers? At 6-2, and coming off a big victory vs. the Stamps, the Bombers are on top of the Nissan Titan Power Rankings (CFL.ca).

– Two special teams touchdowns in his first CFL game earned Janarion Grant Shaw Top Performer honours after Week 9 (CFL.ca).

– OL Cody Speller, WR Darvin Adams, DE Jackson Jeffcoat, DB Chris Humes, LB Thiadric Hansen and OL Pat Neufeld were all absent from practice on Monday (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).

– The Bombers released National linebacker DJ Lalama on Tuesday (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Twitter).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Shannon Vizniowski/CFL.ca

– Brandon Banks had a last-minute touchdown in the Ticats comeback win over the Lions last week and earned a Top Performer nod (CFL.ca).

– DB Delvin Breaux was absent from practice on Wednesday and was also missing from practice on Tuesday (Kyle Melo, TSN1150).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Can the Argos upset the Eskimos with a win at home on Friday night? (The Canadian Press)

– After sitting out of the Argos last two games due to an injury, running back James Wilder Jr. returned to practice on Monday (CFL.ca).

– Wilder missed both practice days late last week after missing a flight returning from the bye week (Matthew Scianitti, TSN).

– Following a trade that saw Zach Collaros return to the Argonauts, the pivot is remaining confident that he’ll be back in action sooner than later (CFL.ca).

– Are the Argos in the playoff race after winning their first game of the season? CFL.ca’s writers debate in the latest from The Weekly Say (CFL.ca). 

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

The REDBLACKS inked Stefan Logan this week (MontrealAlouettes.com)

– The Ottawa REDBLACKS inked veteran kick returner Stefan Logan to the practice roster on Tuesday. The team also announced the release of receiver Noel Thomas (CFL.ca).

– In more roster news, the REBLACKS released national receiver Julian Feoli-Gudino (CFL.ca).

– WR Jacob Scarfone has been moved from the practice roster to the active roster (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).

– Running back Mossis Madu took first team reps at practice on Tuesday, although it is expected that John Crockett should be good to go for the weekend (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).

– After missing the last few weeks with an injury, receiver RJ Harris is on track to return on Saturday against the Tiger-Cats (Tim Baines, Ottawa Sun).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

DeVier Posey was added to the active roster this week (MontrealAlouettes.com)

– Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. and receiver DeVier Posey returned to practice on Tuesday while B.J. Cunningham was placed on the six-game injured list (CFL.ca).

– It looks like Montreal could have their starting QB back this weekend as Adams Jr. was practicing with the first-team offence on Tuesday (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– According to the Alouettes head coach Khari Jones, Cunningham has undergone surgery on his fractured wrist and is likely out for the season (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– William Stanback left practice early on Tuesday but Jones is hopeful that the running back plays on Saturday in Calgary (Didier Ormejuste, RDS).