Samwise CFL Newsletter
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Calgary Stampeders open 2026 CFL preseason with 20–15 win over defending Grey Cup champion Roughriders
The Calgary Stampeders opened the 2026 CFL preseason with a 20–15 victory over the defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders at McMahon Stadium on Monday, marking the first CFL game of the year. Vernon Adams Jr. connected with Jalen Philpot for a 70-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Backup Josh Love added a one-yard rushing score as the Stampeders led 14–6 at halftime. Calgary’s defence recorded three sacks and yielded no touchdowns until Saskatchewan’s Brayden Schrager ran 20 yards for a score late in the fourth quarter. Schrager finished 10-of-18 for 139 yards but the Roughriders’ comeback fell short.
Sources: TSN, NortheastNOW
New 35-second clock, unsettled QB depth, and rookie Elijah Hills highlight Calgary’s preseason opener
Monday’s CFL preseason opener provided the first real test of the league’s new 35-second running play clock, which begins when the previous play ends rather than when an official whistles it in. Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson called it “a simple game” driven by rhythm, and noted the new clock prevents slow personnel substitutions. Calgary defensive lineman Elijah Hills stood out with four tackles and a sack in his professional debut, earning a post-game shoutout from the coaching staff. The quarterback depth chart behind Vernon Adams Jr. remains unresolved after Love, Wooldridge, and Criswell each saw action, with final roster cuts due May 30.
Sources: 3DownNation
Winnipeg Blue Bombers rule linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox out for entire 2026 CFL season
Veteran linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox will miss the entire 2026 CFL season after suffering a non-contact injury during the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ first training camp practice on May 10. The 31-year-old signed with Winnipeg as a free agent in February after three seasons with the Ottawa Redblacks, where he recorded 209 tackles, five quarterback sacks, and two interceptions in 42 regular-season games, earning a Most Outstanding Defensive Player nomination in 2025. Santos-Knox, who began his CFL career with the Bombers in 2017, was helped off the field by medical staff and had not returned to practice since the injury.
Sources: 3DownNation, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Alouettes receiver Jerreth Sterns embraces fresh start in Montreal after Winnipeg did not offer a contract
Wide receiver Jerreth Sterns enters the 2026 CFL season with the Montreal Alouettes after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers did not offer him a contract in free agency. Sterns told 3DownNation he spoke with coach Mike O’Shea, who explained the business decision, and said there was “no love lost.” The 26-year-old recorded 48 catches for 530 yards and four touchdowns with Winnipeg in 2025. He arrives in Montreal as the team looks to fill the void left by the departures of Charleston Rambo and Austin Mack. Alouettes GM Danny Maciocia praised Sterns’ early camp showing, calling both him and receiver Alexander Hollins strong contributors.
Sources: 3DownNation
B.C. Lions sign former NFL draft pick Stantley Thomas-Oliver along with three others in training camp moves
The B.C. Lions signed American defensive back Stantley Thomas-Oliver on Monday along with three other players as the team continued reshaping its roster ahead of final cuts on May 30. Thomas-Oliver, 27, was a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers and later played for the New York Giants and Detroit Lions, recording 17 tackles over 26 NFL games. The Lions also signed offensive lineman Joshua Donovan, defensive lineman Colby Taylor, and defensive back Morice Norris, while releasing four players including running back Peyton Barber. B.C. plays its first preseason game Saturday, May 23, against the Edmonton Elks.
Sources: 3DownNation
Montreal Alouettes sign Laval Canadian quarterback Arnaud Desjardins and five others at Quebec City camp
The Montreal Alouettes signed Canadian quarterback Arnaud Desjardins from Laval University on Monday along with five other players. Desjardins, a non-import, adds to the club’s Canadian depth in a league where teams must meet strict import-to-national ratio requirements. Training camp is underway in Quebec City ahead of Montreal’s preseason opener on May 22 against the Ottawa Redblacks at Percival Molson Stadium. Head coach Jason Maas and general manager Danny Maciocia have spoken positively about the team’s evolving receiver group and overall camp atmosphere despite the offseason departures of Charleston Rambo and Austin Mack. The Alouettes’ regular-season opener is on the road June 4 at Hamilton.
Sources: 3DownNation
Ottawa Redblacks sign five players and release three as training camp roster construction continues
The Ottawa Redblacks signed five players and released three on Monday, continuing their active roster construction as training camp progresses. Among those signed were American linebacker Bryce Ramirez, American defensive back Zachary Barley, and American defensive lineman Tyce Westland. Ottawa enters 2026 with a revamped quarterback room after acquiring Jake Maier from the Saskatchewan Roughriders in CFL free agency. The Redblacks travel to Montreal for their preseason opener on Friday, May 22 at Percival Molson Stadium. With the regular season beginning league-wide on June 4, Ottawa has been among the CFL’s most active teams on the transaction wire throughout the training camp period.
Sources: 3DownNation
Eastern Conference
Eastern Division
1. Alouettes — 0 pts (0-0-0)
2. Argonauts — 0 pts (0-0-0)
3. Tiger-Cats — 0 pts (0-0-0)
4. Redblacks — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Regular season begins June 4, 2026
Western Conference
Western Division
1. Roughriders — 0 pts (0-0-0)
2. Blue Bombers — 0 pts (0-0-0)
3. Stampeders — 0 pts (0-0-0)
4. Lions — 0 pts (0-0-0)
5. Elks — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Regular season begins June 4, 2026
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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