Checking Down: Ray ruled out in Week 8?

TORONTO — Two of the CFL’s stars are ready to return in Week 8 in Jonathon Jennings and Tyrell Sutton, but what about REDBLACKS receiver Kenny Shaw?

Plus, while the injury bug continues to pester the undefeated Edmonton Eskimos, Argos quarterback Ricky Ray appears unlikely to play Friday night in Montreal.

We check on the latest in this week’s Checking Down as Week 8 kicks off Thursday:

Jump to team:

BC LIONS

– Bryan Burnham was spotted limping off the field at Lions practice on Wednesday (Josh Clipperton, The Canadian Press)

– Jonathon Jennings is getting the majority of reps this week in practice while Travis Lulay is still feeling sore following Week 7’s win over the Riders (Farhan Lalji, TSN).

– With the injury to DeQuin Evans, the Lions will lean on a familiar face in Ricky Foley — nearly a decade after Foley left the Lions (Patrick Johnston, The Vancouver Province).

– The Lions have announced they will honour two former defensive linemen, Brent Johnson and Carl Kidd, by adding them to the Wall of Fame on Aug. 18 when they host the Stampeders (BCLions.com).

– Already boasting some of the CFL’s most impressive receivers, the Lions are getting even more with the addition of Chris Williams (Jim Morris, CFL.ca).

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

The injury bug continues to bite the Eskimos, with Brandon Zylstra now added to the list (The Canadian Press)

– Brandon Zylstra, Danny Groulx, Gary Peters and Justin Sorensen are on the Eskimos’ one-game injured list while Duke Williams is questionable for Thursday’s game. Meanwhile, Shamawd Chambers will make his first start of the season (Dave Campbell, CHED).

– Despite rushing for 100 yards in his first career game, LaDarius Perkins is lamenting his fourth quarter fumble in a win over the Ticats (Gerry Moddejonge, Edmonton Journal).

– Eskimos Eighth overall pick in 2016 Tevaun Smith has been released by the Indianapolis Colts (3 Down Nation).

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Roy Finch enjoyed another dominant outing vs. the Argos, including a highlight-reel return (The Canadian Press)

– The Stamps roll into the bye week on a high thanks to one of the CFL’s emerging elite kick returners (Ian Busby, 3 Down Nation).

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Kevin Glenn looks to rebound in Week 8 following his worst start of the season vs. BC (The Canadian Press)

– Chris Jones says that OL Dan Clark and DL Zach Minter have been placed on the Riders’ six-game injured list (Taylor Shire, Global News).

– Throwing deep has been an issue for the Riders, who have completed only two of five attempts of 20 yards or more over their last two road games. Rob Vanstone diagnoses some of the team’s tendencies (Rob Vanstone, Regina Leader-Post).

– Despite a tough offensive outing vs. BC, Kevin Glenn and the Riders’ pass-catchers get the top marks after the team’s first third of the season (Murray McCormick, Regina Leader-Post).

– Speaking of Kevin Glenn, is the Riders’ quarterback playing for his job this week after a rough outing in BC? Weigh in on The Weekly Say (CFL.ca)

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Matt Nichols has executed well in late-game situations with his team trailing (The Canadian Press)

– Organized chaos is one way to describe a no huddle offence but Matt Nichols and the Bombers have executed it to perfection (Paul Friesen, Winnipeg Sun).

– Addison Richards has walked away from football, telling Head Coach Mike O’Shea that he just didn’t feel right and wanted to finish up school (Paul Friesen, Winnipeg Sun).

– While receiver T.J. Thorpe sat Tuesday, Mike O’Shea is calling it a maintenance day, adding that Thorpe should be fine (Darrin Bauming, TSN 1290).

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

– Coming results in Hamilton will determine how the Ticats’ recent coaching shuffle is perceived, including the addition of June Jones and the departure of Jeff Reinebold (Drew Edwards, 3 Down Nation).

– Chatter surrounding Johnny Manziel just won’t go away. The 2012 Heisman winner, whose rights belong to the Ticats, says the CFL is ‘something I’ve looked into’ (The Associated Press).

– The Ticats could be getting some reinforcements on defence, including the return of Emanuel Davis who has practised with the first team (Drew Edwards, 3 Down Nation).

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Ricky Ray is not expected to play Friday after not handling reps this week in practice (Dave Chidley/CFL.ca)

– According to TSN‘s Dave Naylor, the Argos have ruled Ricky Ray out of Friday’s game vs. Montreal (Dave Naylor, TSN).

– Alan-Michael Cash is back on the roster just in time to face his former team, when the Argos visit the Alouettes on Friday (Frank Zicarelli, Toronto Sun).

– Jim Popp, Marc Trestman, S.J. Green, Jeff Finley and Bear Woods are other Argos who will be returning to familiar territory in La Belle Province (Mike Hogan, Argonauts.ca).

– For S.J. Green, there’s something personal riding on Friday’s return to Montreal. Green opens up in The Long Read (Chris O’Leary, CFL.ca)

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Kenny Shaw’s REDBLACKS debut will have to wait another week as he sits out Week 8 (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

– Tuesday saw some changes for the REDBLACKS at practice, including Jason Lauzon-Seguin back in at tackle, Adrian James at SAM linebacker and Antoine Pruneau shifting back over to safety (Tim Baines, Ottawa Citizen).

– The REDBLACKS’ roster came out Wednesday and revealed that Kenny Shaw will not yet suit up for his first game of the season, while Mossis Madu gets the nod at running back with William Powell out.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Tyrell Sutton is back leading the Alouettes’ offensive backfield this week (Montreal Alouettes)

– With Chris Ackie out, the Als will have to rely on younger safeties Dondre Wright and Mikael Charland. Wright will get his first CFL start after being picked 20th overall in the 2017 CFL Draft (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– While X-rays on Brandon Rutley‘s hand came back negative, Tyrell Sutton is back as the Alouettes’ starting tailback (Herb Zurkowsky, Montreal Gazette).

– Receiver Tiquan Underwood is also back on the practice field for the Alouettes this week, while Philippe Gagnon has replaced Phillip Blake (upper body injury) at left guard (Didier Orméjuste, RDS).

– Back in Montreal for the first time since being traded, S.J. Green opens up about his career with the Als and moving on to Toronto in The Long Read (Chris O’Leary, CFL.ca)