Checking Down: Dressler out Week 7?
TORONTO — Chris Williams will make his 2017 debut for the BC Lions after his stellar season came to an end late last year when he tore his ACL. In other receiver news, it appears that Weston Dressler could be out for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
We check on the latest in this week’s Checking Down:
Jump to team:
| BC | Calgary | Edmonton | Saskatchewan | Winnipeg | Hamilton | Toronto | Ottawa | Montreal |
BC LIONS
Williams was one of the most sought after free agents heading into the 2017 season before being scooped up by the Lions (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– Defensive lineman Maxx Forde is seizing every opportunity that comes his way (Cam Tucker, The Province).
– Bryan Burnham wants to be remembered as one of the best receivers to play in the CFL. (Matt Baker, BC Lions).
– Chris Williams confirms that he will make his first start of the 2017 season on Saturday vs. the Saskatchewan Roughriders (The Waggle).
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
The Esks scored on their final drive of the game to edge the Ticats 31-28 in Week 5 (Dave Chidley/The Canadian Press)
– The Esks have no intentions of taking things easy on the 0-5 Ticats after narrowly defeating the winless Tabbies in Week 5 (Dave Campbell, CHED).
– Vidal Hazelton‘s 108-yard touchdown puts the receiver in elite company and is the longest completion in Esks history (CFL.ca).
– The wins, and injuries, continue to stack up for the Eskimos as running back Travon Van and kicker Sean Whyte made early exits in Week 6 (Gerry Moddejonge, Edmonton Journal).
– Veteran defensive back Cauchy Muamba is back in green and gold after becoming a free agent in the off-season (Gerry Moddejonge, Edmonton Journal).
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
Messam leads the league in rushing yards (414) and is tied at the top of the league for rushing TDs (five) heading into Week 7 (The Canadian Press)
– Jerome Messam shows no signs of slowing down in 2017 after posting a three-touchdown performance against the Ticats last week (George Johnson, Stampeders.com.)
– Lemar Durant is making the most of his opportunities in his third year with the Stamps (Kristan Odland, Calgary Herald).
– Roy Finch‘s 97-yard punt return TD served as catalyst in the Stamps 60-1 demolition over the Ticats in Week 6 (George Johnson, Stampeders.com).
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Carter led all receivers with 131 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches in a 38-27 win over the Argos (Arthur Ward)
– The Riders are the biggest movers in this week’s Nissan Titan Power Rankings (CFL.ca).
– Saskatchewan is gearing up for their toughest stretch of the 2017 season as their next five games are against divisional opponents (Murray McCormick, Regina Leader-Post).
– Duron Carter‘s one-handed highlight reel catch gave the Riders a much needed boost en route to a 37-28 victory over the Argos in Week 6 (Ian Hamilton, Riderville.com).
– The Riders will be without kicker Tyler Crapigna when they take on the BC Lions this week. He has been added to the six-game injured list (Regina Leader-Post).
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
Dressler could be sidelined in Week 7 against the REDBLACKS (BlueBombers.com)
– There are reports that the Bombers could be without Weston Dressler for Week 7 as the team’s top receiver did not practice this week (CFL.ca).
– The Bombers are still riding high from a 41-40 comeback win against the Montreal Alouettes that saw them score two touchdowns in the final minute and a half (Ed Tait, BlueBombers.com).
– Winnipeg could receive a boost on defence on defence against the REDBLACKS as Maurice Leggett and Bruce Johnson returned to practice this week (Scott Billeck, Winnipeg Sun).
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
A nagging lower body injury kept Lawrence from traveling to Calgary to take on the Stamps (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
– Simoni Lawrence is back at Ticats practice after being out of the lineup for Week 6 (Drew Edwards, The Hamilton Spectator).
– The Ticats are continuing to move forward after suffering the second worst defeat in franchise history at the hands of the Stampeders (Drew Edwards, The Hamilton Spectator).
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
Ray is officially the Argos’ all-time leader in passing yards, throwing for a total of 16,634 yards (The Canadian Press)
– The Argos released 9-year veteran defensive back Matt Black and wide receiver Devon Wylie on Tuesday (CFL.ca).
– The Argos’ aren’t making any excuses for their inability to close out a win last week against the Riders. (Terry Koshan, Toronto Sun).
– Ricky Ray became the Argos’ all-time leader is passing yards last week, surpassing longtime record holder Condredge Holloway (Argonauts.ca).
OTTAWA REDBLACKS
The REDBLACKS got some much needed rest in Week 6 after playing three games in 11 days (Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca)
– The REDBLACKS announced Tuesday that they have signed receiver/returner Quincy McDuffie to a two-year deal (CFL.ca) .
– The REDBLACKS are feeling refocused and ready to get back to work after a bye in Week 6 (Tim Baines, Ottawa Citizen).
– Offensive lineman Jake Silas could make his way into the starting lineup on Friday night against the Bombers (Tim Baines, Ottawa Citizen).
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
The Als head into the bye week with back-to-back losses after losing close games to the Bombers and REDBLACKS (Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca)
– After an impressive start to the 2017 season, does B.J. Cunningham’s name belong in a group with the CFL’s elite receivers (CFL.ca)?
– The Alouettes know that they need to improve on closing out games after allowing Winnipeg to score two touchdowns in the final minute to win 41-40 last week (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).
