Samwise CFL Newsletter
Saturday, July 4, 2026
Vernon Adams Jr. Ties Franchise Record as Calgary Routs Toronto 58-36 in Stampede Bowl
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw six touchdown passes and added a rushing major in a 58-36 Stampede Bowl victory over the visiting Toronto Argonauts on Thursday at McMahon Stadium. Adams tied a Calgary franchise record for touchdown passes in a single game, joining Peter Liske (1967), Doug Flutie (1994), Jeff Garcia (1995), and current Stampeders coach-GM Dave Dickenson (2000). The 33-year-old completed 80 per cent of his passes for 405 yards and has not thrown an interception this season. Jalen Philpot and Dejon Brissett each caught two touchdown passes. Calgary won its second consecutive Stampede Bowl title.
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Sexton's 101-Yard Return Sparks Saskatchewan Past Ottawa 27-22
The Saskatchewan Roughriders erased a 10-0 deficit to defeat the Ottawa Redblacks 27-22 at TD Place on Friday evening in Week 5. Rookie returner Mathew Sexton tight-roped down the sideline for a 101-yard punt return touchdown early in the third quarter — his first career CFL major — after Ottawa punter Noah Gettman opted not to contest the return. KeeSean Johnson added another major in the second half, and short-yardage specialist Tommy Stevens sealed the win on the final drive with five carries for 29 yards. Saskatchewan improved to 3-1 on the season while Ottawa fell to 0-4.
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BC Lions Bench Tyson Russell and Shuffle Secondary Ahead of Edmonton Showdown in Kelowna
The BC Lions have made changes to their secondary, benching Tyson Russell and reshuffling their defensive backfield as they search for their first win of the 2026 season. BC faces the undefeated Edmonton Elks on Saturday at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna. Despite entering 2026 as a popular Grey Cup contender, the Lions sit at 0-3. Quarterback Nathan Rourke posted 462 passing yards against Calgary in the previous Kelowna contest, but the defence allows a league-worst 7.8 yards per play. BC Place is unavailable this summer while Vancouver hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Dinwiddie Unloads on Ottawa After Fourth Straight Loss: Mistakes 'Just Beyond' Him
Ottawa Redblacks head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie publicly criticized his team after Friday's 27-22 home loss to Saskatchewan, taking aim at the club's decision-making and what he described as a lack of 'football intelligence.' Dinwiddie, in his first CFL season as head coach, said the club's costly errors were 'just beyond' him after Ottawa dropped to 0-4 on the season. The Redblacks have been outscored in all four of their contests this year. Dinwiddie was hired in November 2025 to revitalize a franchise that had endured years of quarterback instability and head coaching turnover.
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First-Round Pick Dariel Djabome Set for First Career CFL Start with Edmonton
Edmonton Elks linebacker Dariel Djabome, the third-overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, will make his first career start on Saturday when the unbeaten Elks visit the BC Lions at Kelowna's Apple Bowl. The 22-year-old from Longueuil, Que., has appeared in all three Edmonton games this season and collected two special teams tackles. Djabome was elevated to the starting role because American linebacker Brock Mogensen was placed on the six-game injured list with a hamstring injury, joining opening-day starter Nick Anderson, who has been on the six-game list since last week. Djabome recorded 192 career tackles in four seasons at Rutgers University.
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Saskatchewan Place Returner James Letcher Jr. on Six-Game Injured List
Saskatchewan Roughriders returner James Letcher Jr. has been placed on the six-game injured list with an elbow injury sustained on his first touch in Week 4. Rookie American receiver Mathew Sexton will handle return duties in his absence. Receiver Jaylen Johnson — who has nine receptions for 117 yards this season — was also placed on the one-game injured list with a shoulder injury, with Johnny Johnson III entering the starting lineup as a result. Defensive lineman Ali Saad was placed on the six-game list with a calf injury. The Roughriders managed the injuries ahead of their Week 5 matchup in Ottawa.
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Ottawa Redblacks Release Quarterback Nicholas Vattiato
The Ottawa Redblacks released American quarterback Nicholas Vattiato on Thursday, in what was described as a widely anticipated move. Vattiato had joined Ottawa's negotiation list in 2024 and signed with the team earlier this year but never appeared in a regular-season game. A native of Plantation, Florida, he played collegiately 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. Jake Maier remains Ottawa's starting quarterback, backed up by McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Bryson Barnes as the Redblacks sit winless at 0-4.
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Eastern Division
Through Week 4
1. Montreal Alouettes — 6 pts (3-1-0)
2. Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 4 pts (2-1-0)
3. Toronto Argonauts — 4 pts (2-2-0)
4. Ottawa Redblacks — 0 pts (0-4-0)
Western Division
Through Week 4 — Week 5 in progress
1. Edmonton Elks — 6 pts (3-0-0)
2. Saskatchewan Roughriders — 6 pts (3-1-0)
3. Calgary Stampeders — 4 pts (2-2-0)
4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 2 pts (1-2-0)
5. BC Lions — 0 pts (0-3-0)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency