Samwise CFL Newsletter
Saturday, May 9, 2026
All CFL Teams Face 85-Player Roster Deadline Tonight as Training Camps Open Sunday
All nine Canadian Football League clubs face an 11:59 p.m. local-time deadline tonight, Saturday, May 9, to reduce their training camp rosters to 85 players, excluding non-counters. Camps officially open Sunday, May 10, with a second cutdown to 75 players required by May 12. Preseason games begin May 18 when Saskatchewan hosts Calgary, with the regular season kicking off June 4 when the Montreal Alouettes visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Several roster moves were made across the league Friday in anticipation of the deadline, including the B.C. Lions releasing national defensive lineman Christian Covington and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats signing American defensive lineman Mitchell Agude just hours before the cutoff.
Sources: 3DownNation
B.C. Lions Release National Veteran Christian Covington After Two CFL Seasons
The B.C. Lions have released national defensive lineman Christian Covington after two CFL seasons, general manager Ryan Rigmaiden announced Friday. The Vancouver native, 32, accumulated 29 defensive tackles, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles in 29 regular-season games with the Lions since joining the team in 2024. Covington came to Vancouver after nine NFL seasons—including a four-year stint with the Houston Texans from 2015 through 2018—with the Cowboys, Bengals, and Chargers also on his resume. He was originally selected by the Lions in the fifth round of the 2015 CFL Draft. Covington earned $8.65 million USD in his NFL career, according to Spotrac.
Sources: 3DownNation
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Sign Former NFL Defender Mitchell Agude
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed American defensive lineman Mitchell Agude, the team announced Friday ahead of Sunday's training camp opening. The 27-year-old native of Corona, California stands six-foot-four, 262 pounds and spent three seasons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions, recording three total tackles and one forced fumble in four games with Detroit in 2024. According to Spotrac, Agude earned more than $600,000 USD in his NFL career. He was selected by the Houston Gamblers in the 2026 UFL Draft but did not see regular-season action. Hamilton finished first in the East Division last year with an 11-7 record before losing the Eastern Final to Montreal.
Sources: 3DownNation
Edmonton Elks Sign UTSA Standout Joshua Cephus and Six Others
The Edmonton Elks signed seven players Friday as they finalize their training camp roster, headlined by American receiver Joshua Cephus from the University of Texas San Antonio. The six-foot-two, 193-pound Cephus recorded 313 receptions for 3,639 yards and 28 touchdowns over six collegiate seasons, earning first-team All-American Athletic Conference recognition in 2023, then spent time on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice roster in 2024. Also signed are running back ShunDerrick Powell, receiver Julian Hicks, offensive lineman Jason Laliberte Jr., linebacker Jadon Pearson, defensive back Terez Reid, and Canadian long snapper Orin Schellenberg. Edmonton missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season in 2025, finishing 7-11 in the West Division.
Sources: 3DownNation
Five Position Battles to Watch When the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Open Training Camp
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers open training camp at Princess Auto Stadium on Sunday, May 10, as the club prepares to rebound after a disappointing 2025 season. John Hodge of 3DownNation identifies five key position battles: backup quarterback behind Zach Collaros, following Chris Streveler's retirement after a second ACL tear; left guard on a rebuilt offensive line; defensive end opposite Willie Jefferson; linebacker, with Jovan Santos-Knox added in free agency; and cornerback alongside new arrival Jonathan Moxey. The most intriguing competition may be at quarterback, with UFL MVP Bryce Perkins, collegiate standout Payton Thorne, and Canadian Taylor Elgersma all competing. Collaros said the 2026 season could be his last.
Sources: 3DownNation
Mathieu Betts and Malik Carney Lead CFL's Highest-Paid Defensive Linemen for 2026
Two-time CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player Mathieu Betts of the B.C. Lions and Edmonton Elks newcomer Malik Carney top the league's highest-paid defensive linemen list for 2026, each earning $270,000 in hard money, according to 3DownNation. Betts, entering the final year of his contract, will collect $175,300 in base salary plus housing and potential awards bonuses. Carney, who won the Grey Cup with Saskatchewan in 2025, received a $150,000 signing bonus to join the Elks; his 14.9 pressure rate led the CFL last season. Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive tackle Jake Ceresna ranks third at $235,000, followed by Edmonton's Robbie Smith, a Brampton, Ontario native, at $230,000.
Sources: 3DownNation
Argonauts Sign Canadian OL Victor Olaniran Ahead of Training Camp
The Toronto Argonauts have signed Canadian offensive lineman Victor Olaniran ahead of Sunday's training camp opening, the team announced Friday. The six-foot-three, 306-pound Winnipeg native dressed in 29 games for the University of Manitoba Bisons and participated in the 2026 CFL Combine and Dream Bowl all-star game in Texas. CFL draft analyst J.C. Abbott described Olaniran as a rugged tone-setter capable of pulling and squaring up defenders on the move. The Argonauts selected Queen's offensive lineman Niklas Henning with the first-round pick in last month's CFL Draft, though Henning subsequently signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. Toronto begins the regular season June 12 against the Montreal Alouettes.
Sources: 3DownNation
Eastern Conference
Eastern Division — Pre-Season
1. Montreal Alouettes — 0 pts (0-0-0)
2. Toronto Argonauts — 0 pts (0-0-0)
3. Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 0 pts (0-0-0)
4. Ottawa Redblacks — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Regular season opens June 4, 2026
Western Conference
Western Division — Pre-Season
1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 0 pts (0-0-0)
2. Saskatchewan Roughriders — 0 pts (0-0-0)
3. Calgary Stampeders — 0 pts (0-0-0)
4. Edmonton Elks — 0 pts (0-0-0)
5. B.C. Lions — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Regular season opens June 4, 2026
Curated by JD · samwise.agency