Samwise CFL Newsletter
Friday, July 3, 2026
Adams Ties Franchise Record With Six Touchdowns as Stampeders Rout Argonauts 58-36
Vernon Adams Jr. turned in a historic performance Thursday night at McMahon Stadium, throwing six touchdown passes and adding a rushing major as the Calgary Stampeders defeated the Toronto Argonauts 58-36 in the second annual Stampede Bowl. Adams completed 20 of 25 pass attempts for 405 yards and has yet to throw an interception through four games this season. Jalen Philpot and Dejon Brissett each caught two scoring passes, while Tevin Jones and Clark Barnes added one apiece. Adams tied a franchise record for touchdown passes in a single game, joining Peter Liske (1967), Doug Flutie (1994), Jeff Garcia (1995) and Dave Dickenson (2000).
Sources: Global News TSN Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
2026 CFL Season on Record Offensive Pace With Three Quarterbacks Chasing Flutie’s Mark
The 2026 Canadian Football League season is producing offence at an unprecedented rate. Through the first four weeks, scoring is up more than 11 points per game over historical averages. Teams have scored 30 or more points in 17 of the season’s games, and just two contests have seen a team held below 23 points. A team has thrown for at least 300 yards in 16 games, including seven outings above 400 yards. Three quarterbacks — Toronto’s Chad Kelly, Saskatchewan’s Trevor Harris and Montreal’s Davis Alexander — are all on pace to shatter Doug Flutie’s 35-year-old record for passing yards per game.
Ottawa Redblacks Release American QB Nicholas Vattiato Less Than Two Weeks After Signing Him
The Ottawa Redblacks have released American quarterback Nicholas Vattiato, the team announced Thursday. The 23-year-old from Plantation, Florida, had been the longest-tenured player on Ottawa’s negotiation list after being added in August 2024, and was signed to the practice squad on June 22, 2026. Vattiato played his college football at Middle Tennessee State University, completing 61.2 per cent of his passes for 2,150 yards, 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions over nine games in 2025. He spent just days with the Redblacks before being released, ending a long-anticipated union between the quarterback and the organization.
Sources: 3DownNation Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Eugene Lewis and Alonzo Addae Return for Ottawa Ahead of Friday’s Home Game vs. Saskatchewan
The Ottawa Redblacks will have two key veterans available for Friday’s home game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders after both Eugene Lewis and Alonzo Addae were returned to the active roster. Lewis, the CFL’s leading active receiver with 480 career catches for 7,368 yards and 47 touchdowns over 118 regular-season games, returns after missing last week with a shoulder injury. Addae returns to start at safety following a week out with a head injury. Ottawa sits at 0-3 in the East Division and is searching for its first victory of the 2026 season when the 2-1 Roughriders visit TD Place on Friday night.
Sources: 3DownNation Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Saskatchewan Roughriders Place Returner James Letcher Jr. on Six-Game Injured List
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have placed returner James Letcher Jr. on the six-game injured list with an elbow injury, the team announced Thursday. Letcher Jr. sustained the injury on his first touch of Week 4 last weekend. Rookie American receiver Mathew Sexton is expected to take over return duties in his absence. The Roughriders head into Friday’s game at Ottawa at 2-1, looking to maintain their position in the West Division standings. The loss of Letcher Jr. on special teams creates uncertainty for Saskatchewan entering the contest, with the team managing its depth ahead of what promises to be a physical game at TD Place.
Sources: 3DownNation Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Tyreik McAllister Records Back-to-Back Return Touchdowns as Calgary Stampeders Find Their Form
Tyreik McAllister has scored return touchdowns in back-to-back games for the first time at any level of his football career, with the Calgary Stampeders returner finding his form in the early weeks of the 2026 CFL season. His most recent score — a 90-yard punt return in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s 41-33 win over the B.C. Lions in Kelowna — was pivotal in securing the victory. McAllister has compiled 359 combined yards on kickoff and punt returns with Calgary this season. Head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson said: “I do think his legs are back,” adding that McAllister has been “excellent.”
Rookie Zy Alexander’s Two Interceptions Help Swing Stampede Bowl Momentum for Calgary
Rookie defensive back Zy Alexander was one of three key statistical stories in Calgary’s 58-36 Stampede Bowl win Thursday, recording two interceptions that single-handedly swung the turnover battle 2-1 in the Stampeders’ favour. One of Alexander’s picks was an impressive one-handed grab. Calgary had come into Week 5 ranked last in the CFL in passing yards and net offence per game, making the combination of 405 passing yards from Vernon Adams Jr. and Alexander’s defensive performance one of the more complete team efforts of the early season. CFL.ca cited all three stats in its post-game breakdown of the decisive victory.
Eastern Division
East Division
1. Montreal — 6 pts (3-1-0)
2. Hamilton — 4 pts (2-1-0)
3. Toronto — 4 pts (2-2-0)
4. Ottawa — 0 pts (0-3-0)
* After Wk 5 Thu game. Fri game TBD.
Western Division
West Division
1. Edmonton — 6 pts (3-0-0)
2. Saskatchewan — 4 pts (2-1-0)
3. Calgary — 4 pts (2-2-0)
4. Winnipeg — 2 pts (1-2-0)
5. BC Lions — 0 pts (0-3-0)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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