Samwise CFL Newsletter
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Saskatchewan Roughriders Present Diamond-Encrusted 112th Grey Cup Championship Rings
The Saskatchewan Roughriders held a ring ceremony Sunday night in Regina, presenting players, coaches, and staff with their 112th Grey Cup championship rings, crafted by Baron Championship Rings. A five-person design committee — including quarterback Trevor Harris, linebacker Jameer Thurman, head coach Corey Mace, and general manager Jeremy O’Day — produced the diamond-encrusted pieces. The ring face features the Riders’ logo overlaid on the Grey Cup, surrounded by 14 green baguette stones representing each championship-season victory. Harris’s phrase “It’s our time” is engraved inside along with the final score. Saskatchewan defeated Montreal 25–17 in Winnipeg, with Harris earning MVP honours after completing 23 of 27 passes for 302 yards.
Sources: 3DownNation, CFL.ca
Larry Rountree III Wins Hamilton Tiger-Cats Starting Running Back Job for 2026 Opener
Larry Rountree III has won the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ starting running back job for 2026, head coach Scott Milanovich confirmed. The 27-year-old from Raleigh, N.C., filled the role vacated by East Division all-star Greg Bell, who signed with Ottawa in the offseason. Rountree beat out Shane Watts, Avery Morrow, Trent Battle, and Nahree Biggins — Biggins moved to the practice roster — during training camp. He dropped 30 pounds before camp, reporting at 205 pounds after four-down football at 235. Rountree rushed nine times for 86 yards in Hamilton’s preseason opener, including a 46-yard burst in the rain. The Tiger-Cats open the regular season Thursday against Montreal.
Sources: 3DownNation
Calgary Stampeders Sign All-CFL Defensive Lineman Jaylon Hutchings to Three-Year Contract
The Calgary Stampeders have signed American defensive lineman Jaylon Hutchings to a contract through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday. Hutchings, who was named to the West Division All-CFL and All-CFL teams in 2025, played 17 games last season and recorded 39 defensive tackles, eight sacks, one forced fumble, and two knockdowns. He originally joined the Stampeders in October 2024 before departing for the Minnesota Vikings in January 2026, but was waived in April with an injury designation. “He’s a difference-maker — ask people around the league — and for him to commit for three years shows a lot,” said head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson.
Sources: CFL.ca
Hutchings and Orimolade Cleared for Calgary Week 1; Begelton Recovery Taking Longer
The Calgary Stampeders received positive injury news Monday, with defensive linemen Jaylon Hutchings and Folarin Orimolade both cleared for the team’s Week 1 home opener against Winnipeg on Friday. Hutchings was waived by the Minnesota Vikings in April with an injury designation before returning to Calgary on a three-year deal. Coach Dave Dickenson said Orimolade — who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in September — “looked great” after weeks of rehabilitation. Less encouraging was news on receiver Reggie Begelton, who fractured his leg in Week 2 of last season; Dickenson said his recovery “is taking a little longer.” Kicker Rene Paredes, a team captain, is also expected to play.
Sources: 3DownNation
Former CFL Receiver Bralon Addison Joins Winnipeg Blue Bombers Coaching Staff
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have added retired receiver Bralon Addison to their 2026 coaching staff as an offensive assistant, the team announced Monday. Addison, 32, had been serving as a guest coach since the start of rookie camp in May through the CFL’s Diversity in Football Program. The University of Oregon product appeared in 63 regular-season CFL games with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2018–22) and Ottawa Redblacks (2023–25), recording 303 receptions for 3,543 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was a CFL and East Division all-star in 2019. Addison worked with offensive coordinator Tommy Condell in both Hamilton and Ottawa; Condell holds the same role in Winnipeg entering 2026.
Sources: 3DownNation
Ottawa Redblacks Sign Victor, Munier-Bailey, and Casey from League-Wide Cutdown Pool
The Ottawa Redblacks signed three players released during the league-wide roster reductions Monday: American receiver Binjimen Victor, Global defensive lineman Kemari Munier-Bailey, and American linebacker Aaron Casey. Victor, 29, was cut by the Edmonton Elks and produced 32 receptions for 331 yards and one touchdown over 12 starts in 2025. Munier-Bailey, a six-foot-three, 235-pound native of Birmingham, U.K., was the second overall pick in the 2025 CFL Global Draft and was released by Winnipeg after dressing for one regular-season game as a rookie. Casey spent training camp with Toronto and registered 36 tackles, six quarterback sacks, and one forced fumble over 15 games with the Argonauts last season.
Sources: 3DownNation
Thirty of 65 Competition-Eligible 2026 CFL Draft Picks Survive Cutdown Day
Seventy-four players were selected in the 2026 CFL Draft, but seven remain under NFL contract and two are recovering from major injuries, leaving 65 who competed for roster spots in training camp. Of those, 30 made final active rosters, 13 earned practice roster placements, seven returned to school, 14 were cut, and one retired before the preseason. The two lowest-drafted picks to make active rosters were both from Wilfrid Laurier: linebacker Josh Connors (No. 66, Ottawa) and fullback Sebastian Parsalidis (No. 68, Toronto). The highest-drafted player without an active roster spot was Montreal’s No. 17 pick, defensive back Shakespeare Louis of Southeastern Louisiana, placed on the Alouettes’ practice roster.
Sources: 3DownNation
Eastern Conference
Eastern Division — Season opens June 4
Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Montreal Alouettes — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Ottawa Redblacks — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Toronto Argonauts — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Western Conference
Western Division — Season opens June 5
Calgary Stampeders — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 0 pts (0-0-0)
B.C. Lions — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Edmonton Elks — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Saskatchewan Roughriders — 0 pts (0-0-0) — Bye Week 1
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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