Checking Down: News and notes from Week 13

TORONTO — Jonathon Jennings is set to take over the REDBLACKS offence.

Will Luke Tasker be ready to return to the Ticats lineup when they return from the bye?

Plus, Nic Demski and Lucky Whitehead were missing from Bombers practice on Wednesday.

The latest news and notes from Week 13 in this week’s Checking Down:

Jump to team:

BC LIONS

Offensive line coach Bryan Chiu was relieved of his duties (CFL.ca).

– He spent the first six weeks of the season on the injured list but running back Wayne Moore is back in the lineup and has shown everyone just how versatile he can be (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).

– The Lions relieved Bryan Chiu of his duties on Saturday and hired Kelly Bates as the team’s new offensive line coach (CFL.ca).

– Bates is excited for his opportunity to coach the big men in the trenches in BC but he knows there much work to be done (Ed Willes, The Province).

– Head coach DeVone Claybrooks says that Bates understands the deficiencies on the Lions O-line and is optimistic with what he brings to the table (TSN1040).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

Can Trevor Harris and the Esks get revenge on the Stamps this week? (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– If the Eskimos are going to go far in the playoffs this season, they’ll have to figure out how to beat Calgary and it starts with Trevor Harris (Matthew Cauz, CFL.ca).

– According to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, the Eskimos got outplayed in every facet of the game in their loss to the Stampeders (TSN1260).

– At 6-5, the Eskimos say they need to have a sense of urgency if they want to keep pace in the West Division (Adam Cook, CTV Edmonton). 

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Bo Levi Mitchell‘s return was triumphant, helping his Stampeders to victory (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– After two months on the sidelines, Bo Levi Mitchell‘s return was a triumphant one in a win over the Edmonton Eskimos (CFL.ca).

– With Bo Levi back in the lineup, TSN’s Milt Stegall says that every team in the West Division needs to be worried about the Stampeders (TSN.ca).

– In his first start in three games, running back Ka’Deem Carey showed no rust, rushing for 143 yards in the Labour Day Classic (Laura Bates, Stampeders.com).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Brett Lauther kicked the Riders to a walk-off victory last week (Arthur Ward/CFL.ca)

– After six straight victories, including a walk off win over Winnipeg, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have taken over the top spot in the Nissan Titan Power Rankings (CFL.ca).

– They may have walked off with a win last week but the Riders survived a series of missed opportunities and will need to improve on those ahead of the Banjo Bowl this weekend (Rob Vanstone, Regina Leader-Post).

– After a slow start to the season, receiver Naaman Roosevelt has finally emerged, hauling in 93 yards in his team’s win over Winnipeg last week (Murray McCormick, Regina Leader-Post).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Lucky Whitehead was missing from practice on Wednesday (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)

– Nic Demski, Lucky Whitehead and Chad Rempel were among players missing from Bombers practice on Wednesday (Darren Bauming, TSN1290).

– Without Demski and Whitehead, Daniel Petermann and rookie Rasheed Bailey were working with the starting offence (Darren Bauming, TSN1290).

– In roster news, American running back John Santiago was released from the practice roster while National long snapper Maxime Latour was added to it. American running back Larry Rose was added to the active roster (BlueBombers.com).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Is Luke Tasker almost ready to return to the Ticats lineup? (Geoff Robins/CFL.ca)

– 442 yards, two touchdowns and a victory helped quarterback Dane Evans to be named a Shaw Top Performer after Week 12 (CFL.ca).

– Bralon Addison was Evans’ favourite target in Week 12, hauling in 167 yards and two touchdowns, and also took home Top Performer honours (CFL.ca).

– Receiver Luke Tasker (slight hamstring, minor broken finger) could be ready to return when the Ticats come back from their bye in Week 14 (Matthew Scianitti, TSN).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Despite McLeod Bethel-Thompson having a good outing against the Tiger-Cats, the Argos dropped to 1-9 (Geoff Robins/CFL.ca)

– At 1-9, it may time for the Toronto Argonauts to start looking ahead to 2020 and start a thorough evaluation of the team top to bottom (Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun).

– His first career 200+ receiving yard game, and two touchdowns to go with it, helped receiver Derel Walker to take home Week 12 Top Performer honours (CFL.ca). 

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Jennings is set to take over the REDBLACKS offence this weekend against Toronto (OttawaREDBLACKS.com)

– It was announced on Tuesday that Jonathon Jennings would start at quarterback for the REDBLACKS this weekend against Toronto (CFL.ca).

– It’s been a quite the week for Jennings, he was named the starting QB on Tuesday and he and his wife Abby welcomed their first child on Monday (Tim Baines, Postmedia).

– Running back Mossis Madu was taking first-team reps with the starting offence on Tuesday while John Crockett was getting some rest (Tim Baines, Postmedia).

– According to receiver Dominique Rhymes, it’s the entire offence that needs to be better in Ottawa, not just the QBs (TSN1200).

– In roster news, the REDBLACKS have added receiver Jaelan Austin, linebacker Nick McBeath and QB Bryan Schor to the team’s practice roster (Tim Baines, Postmedia).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

What impact is Chris Matthews going to have on the Alouettes? (BlueBombers.com)

– It didn’t take long for receiver Chris Matthews to find a new home in Montreal but can he make an impact with the Alouettes heading into the second half of the season? (TSN690).

– Linebacker Henoc Muamba says his new teammate Matthews brings a lot to the table (TSN690).

– According to a report from Herb Zurkowsky, Matthews won’t make his Alouettes debut this week against the BC Lions (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– In roster news, the Alouettes released American receiver Zac Parker on Tuesday (MontrealAlouettes.com).