October 23, 2019

Checking Down: News and notes from Week 20

BlueBombers.com

TORONTO — Zach Collaros took first-team reps with the Blue Bombers this week.

Trevor Harris is likely to line up behind centre for the Eskimos against Saskatchewan.

Plus, Cody Fajardo signed a two-year deal with the Roughriders.

The latest news and notes from Week 20 in this week’s Checking Down:

Jump to team:

BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal

BC LIONS

Bryan Burnham has impressed in BC this season, despite his team missing the playoffs (Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca).

Bryan Burnham has been a bright spot for the Lions this season, leading the CFL in receiving while establishing a new career-high (Matt Baker, BCLions.com).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

 

– The Eskimos have activated quarterback Trevor Harris from the six-game injured list ahead of the team’s Week 20 game against the Riders (CFL.ca).

– We’re down to the final two weeks of the regular season and there are some matchups remaining that could determine the playoff outlook, including a tough schedule for the Eskimos (CFL.ca).

– The Edmonton Eskimos will look to win their final home game of the season against the Riders as they welcome starting quarterback Trevor Harris back into the fold (CFL.ca). 

– Receiver Tevaun Smith and defensive back Josh Johnson returned to practice on Tuesday while running back C.J. Gable remained out (Dave Campbell, 630CHED).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

 

Tre Roberson and Don Jackson returned to Stampeders practice on Tuesday while Cordarro Law was not a participant (CFL.ca).

– The Stampeders signed linebacker Dexter McCoil to the team’s practice roster on Tuesday (CFL.ca).

– A three touchdown performance earned receiver Reggie Begelton a Shaw Top Performer nod (CFL.ca).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

 

– The Roughriders announced on Monday that they have come to terms on a contract extension with quarterback Cody Fajardo (CFL.ca).

– A day after signing a two-year contract extension, does Fajardo belong in the MOP conversation? (Chris O’Leary, CFL.ca).

– In roster news, the Riders signed Canadian defensive back Shamar Busby to the team’s practice roster (CFL.ca).

– The Roughriders vastly improved their odds in the CFL Simulation with a Week 19 victory over the BC Lions (CFL.ca).

Emmanuel Arceneaux was taking first-team reps in place of Jordan Williams-Lambert and defensive back Ed Gainey was missing from practice on Tuesday (Taylor Shire, Global Regina).

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

 

– Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros took first-team reps at practice while Chris Streveler did not practice on Tuesday (CFL.ca).

– CB Chandler Fenner, DB Marcus Rios, S Brandon Alexander, DE Craig Roh, LS Maxime Latour, LS Chad Rempel did not practice on Tuesday (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).

– WR Darvin Adams returned to the field on Tuesday and was working with the first-team offence (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).

– WR Drew Wolitarsky was hurt late in practice on Tuesday and left the field (Bob Irving, 680CJOB). 

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Is Brandon Banks a front-runner for MOP this season? (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– It’s an award normally reserved for quarterbacks, but as CFL.ca’s Matthew Cauz writes, Most Outstanding Player should go to a receiver, Brandon Banks, in 2019 (Matthew Cauz, CFL.ca).

– Over the last month and a half, no quarterback in the CFL has been better than Dane Evans. Where does he rank in this week’s Rockstar QB Index? (CFL.ca).

– Two Ticats, QB Dane Evans and RB Tyrell Sutton, were named Shaw Top Performers after Week 19 (CFL.ca).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

McLeod Bethel-Thompson will be one of a few QBs playing for Toronto this weekend (The Canadian Press)

McLeod Bethel-Thompson was one of the most accurate passers after Week 19 with his performance against the Alouettes (Marshall Ferugson, CFL.ca).

– Talk with anyone in the Argos’ organization and they’re already in 2020. CFL.ca’s Chris O’Leary writes on the outlook of the Boatmen (Chris O’Leary, CFL.ca).

– Argos receiver Chandler Worthy proved he’s ‘worthy’ or being more involved in Toronto’s offence after his performance against the Alouettes (Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun).

– Toronto is expected to rotate their quarterbacks this weekend against the REDBLACKS, starting with McLeod Bethel-Thompson (Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun).

In roster news, the Argos signed American defensive back Cameron Glenn to the team’s practice roster (Argonauts.ca).

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Brad Sinopoli and the REDBLACKS offence has struggled in 2019 (OttawaREDBLACKS.com)

– The REDBLACKS have scored just 16 touchdowns so far in 2019 and the team knows that the offence needs to be better (Tim Baines, Postmedia). 

– With the playoffs out of the picture, should the REDBLACKS give the global players an opportunity to play? (Tim Baines, Postmedia).

– Things have changed quite a bit for the Ottawa REDBLACKS in the last year. CFL.ca’s Marshall Ferguson explains how (Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca).

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Khari Jones led the Als to their ninth win against the Argos in Week 19 (MontrealAlouettes.com)

– The Alouettes added American defensive back Aarion Maxey-Penton to the team’s practice roster (MontrealAlouettes.com).

– For the Als, it didn’t matter how they got the win on Friday night against the Argos, it just matters that they did (Chris O’Leary, CFL.ca).