THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — It’s finally here.
With the 2016 CFL season finally arriving Thursday night, we check in on the latest around the league, from young offensive linemen stepping into the spotlight to who starts at running back for the Bombers.
All that in more in the latest Checking Down:
Jump to team:
| BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal |
BC LIONS
– For the first time in a while, Travis Lulay is fully healthy going into the season (Bro Jake Show, TSN 1040).
– Is Lions receiver Bryan Burnham primed for a breakout season? The third-year Lion will get every opportunity (Cam Tucker, Vancouver Sun).
– Do the Lions have the best one-two quarterback punch in the CFL? More on the dynamic duo of Lulay and Jennings (CFL.ca).
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
– The practice roster is a grind, but it can pay off — just ask the 2015 Most Outstanding Rookie Derel Walker (Gerry Moddejonge, Edmonton Journal).
– TSN revealed its list of the top 50 players in the CFL for 2016, and topping the list is Eskimos pivot and Grey Cup MVP Mike Reilly (CFL.ca).
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
– Pierre Lavertu will not be ready for the Stamps’ regular season opener on Saturday, meaning 2016 CFL Draft pick Roman Grozman will make his first career start at centre (News Talk 770 Calgary).
– The Stampeders appear to have added some veteran depth to their secondary, signing national Matt Bucknor (Drew Edwards, 3 Down Nation).
– It’s deja-vu in Calgary with injuries on the O-line, but Head Coach Dave Dickenson isn’t showing any concern (Scott Mitchell, Calgary Herald)
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
– The Riders have added some depth to their secondary in former Stampeders veteran Buddy Jackson (Riderville.com).
– For all the talk in Riderville, nothing matters more to the team’s 2016 hopes than the health of Darian Durant (The Canadian Press).
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
– After his status was up in the air earlier in the week, the Bombers have confirmed that Andrew Harris will start Friday night’s opener vs. Montreal.
– While everyone talks about the Bombers’ new-look offence, Richie Hall’s defence will be a central figure in the team’s 2016 hopes (Ted Wyman, Winnipeg Sun).
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
– Ted Laurent has been placed on the one-game injured list and will not play Thursday’s game vs. the Argos (Drew Edwards, Hamilton Spectator).
– Injuries have depleted the Ticats’ secondary, which will feature recent signing Geoff Tisdale at boundary corner and rookie Quinton Porter on the other corner (Drew Edwards, Hamilton Spectator).
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
– Planning to head to the Argos game early? Here’s what you need to know about tailgating (Jonathan Forani, The Toronto Star).
– The Argos are ‘going long’ with their attempt at a makeover, which is loosely based on games at Michigan’s Big House in Ann Arbor (Rachel Brady, The Globe and Mail).
– The Argos have placed receiver Diontae Spencer and defensive tackle Brian Bulcke on the six-game injured list.
OTTAWA REDBLACKS
– The REDBLACKS will have plenty of motivation for their Grey Cup rematch with the Eskimos, especially after watching the banner go up (Gord Holder, Ottawa Citizen).
– An injury and an off-season departure opens the door for last year’s first overall pick Alex Mateas on the REDBLACKS’ O-line (Tim Baines, Ottawa Citizen).
– Ticats and REDBLACKS players re-live Greg Ellingson’s catch, one of the biggest moments in Ottawa football history (CFL.ca).
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
– As he continues to work on his craft in the CFL, young pivot Vernon Adams says the NFL isn’t on his mind — for now (Kevin Seifert, ESPN).
– Jacob Ruby will start at left tackle and Philippe Gagnon at right guard for the Als, as the last two years’ first round picks get a chance to make a major impact (Joey Alfieri, TSN 690).
– The Alouettes are on the path to respectability, but first they have some questions to answer (The Canadian Press).
– The release of two veteran DBs was sudden, but Jim Popp says they were beaten out for jobs fair and square (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).
– The Als were the upset team to watch in 2015, pulling off two of the biggest CFL Pick ‘Em upsets last season (CFL.ca).
