Samwise CFL Newsletter
Friday, June 5, 2026
Alouettes Rally from Deficit to Edge Tiger-Cats 30-27 in Season-Opening Overtime Thriller
The Montreal Alouettes opened the 2026 CFL season with a 30-27 overtime win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Thursday night at Tim Hortons Field. Jose Maltos Diaz kicked a 29-yard field goal on the final play of regulation to force overtime, then added the game-winning 17-yard boot after defensive back Robert Kennedy III forced a fumble on Hamilton’s opening possession. Quarterback Davis Alexander finished 25-of-35 for 336 yards and two touchdowns, extending his record for wins to open a CFL career to 12-0. Tyler Snead caught nine passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. Hamilton’s Bo Levi Mitchell completed 34-of-39 for 307 yards but was intercepted in the third quarter.
Sources: TSN, 3DownNation
Speedy B to Join Hall: Tiger-Cats Legend Brandon Banks Surprised with 2026 Canadian Football Hall of Fame Induction
Brandon Banks, 2019 CFL outstanding player, was surprised Thursday with news of his Canadian Football Hall of Fame induction, scheduled for September 17. Banks, 38, had signed a one-day contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Wednesday to retire as a member of the club before being honoured on-field during the season opener. The five-foot-seven receiver, nicknamed Speedy B, spent eight of his nine CFL seasons in Hamilton, recording 422 catches for 5,678 yards and 44 touchdowns in 111 regular-season games. Banks holds the CFL record for missed field-goal return touchdowns with five and won the Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts in 2022.
Sources: TSN, 3DownNation
Three Alouettes Starters Exit Opener with Injuries, Including Running Back Theis and Centre Lawrence
The Montreal Alouettes took their overtime win over Hamilton on Thursday at a physical cost, losing three starters to first-half injuries. Running back Travis Theis did not return after suffering a head injury, while receiver Cole Spieker and centre Justin Lawrence were both seen on the sideline on crutches after the game, according to 3DownNation. Spieker’s left leg bent awkwardly on a routine tackle, and Lawrence was caught underneath the offensive line during a quarterback sneak. With Theis out, backup running back Shomari Lawrence carried the load, rushing eight times for 63 yards in his first action after being elevated from the practice roster.
Sources: 3DownNation, TSN
Gamer, Gamble and a Win: Alexander’s Clutch Play Drives Montreal, but Penalties and Clock Management Need Work
Davis Alexander’s clutch third-and-10 completion with 1:35 remaining kept Montreal’s comeback alive Thursday, showcasing why he remains undefeated in CFL regular-season starts, according to 3DownNation analyst Pablo Herrera-Vergara. The Alouettes’ victory came despite 10 first-half penalties for 113 yards and confusion adapting to the new 35-second play clock. Robert Kennedy III and Geoffrey Cantin-Arku were defensive standouts on an otherwise shaky unit. Tyson Philpot’s one-handed fourth-quarter touchdown grab through defensive back Gregory Junior drew immediate catch-of-the-year attention. Hamilton’s failure to close out a two-touchdown third-quarter lead continued a pattern that cost the Tiger-Cats the East Final last season.
Sources: 3DownNation
Ottawa Redblacks Lose Core Special Teams Contributor James Peter to Season-Ending ACL Injury
Ottawa Redblacks linebacker James Peter will miss the entire 2026 season after suffering an ACL injury, according to a report from TSN 1200’s A.J. Jakubec on Thursday. Peter, 26, led the Redblacks with 19 special teams tackles in 2025, finishing eighth in the CFL. He also contributed five defensive tackles in 17 appearances. Selected with the 12th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 CFL Draft, Peter has 34 special teams tackles, five defensive tackles, and one forced fumble in 42 career games. The Redblacks open their 2026 season against the Edmonton Elks in Ottawa on Saturday.
Sources: 3DownNation
Toronto Argonauts Sign Global Receiver Michael Buckley, a Walkover from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
The Toronto Argonauts signed Global receiver Michael Buckley on Thursday, adding a receiver from Mexico to their roster. The six-foot, 179-pound Buckley went undrafted in the 2026 CFL Global Draft after five seasons at the University of New Mexico, where he recorded 15 receptions for 176 yards in 18 career games. Born in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Buckley moved to California at age 16 to play high school football before walking on at New Mexico in 2021. He earned a scholarship after three seasons but was limited to six games as a senior due to injury. The Argonauts open their season on June 12 in Montreal.
Sources: 3DownNation
CFL Global Pioneer Thiadric Hansen Returns to Europe, Signs with Frankfurt Galaxy
Thiadric Hansen, the CFL’s most notable Global trailblazer and a three-time Grey Cup champion, has returned to Europe by signing with the Frankfurt Galaxy of the European Football Alliance. The 33-year-old defensive end was most recently with the Toronto Argonauts, who released him during training camp after he appeared in 11 games in 2025. Originally selected with the second overall pick in the 2019 CFL European Draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Flensburg, Germany native won two Grey Cups with Winnipeg and one with Toronto in 2024. Hansen recorded 22 defensive tackles, 40 special teams tackles, and five sacks in 69 CFL regular-season games.
Sources: 3DownNation
Eastern Conference
Eastern Division
1. Alouettes — 2 pts (1-0-0)
2. Tiger-Cats — 0 pts (0-1-0)
3. Argonauts — 0 pts (0-0-0)
4. Redblacks — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Western Conference
Western Division — Week 1 Preview
1. Blue Bombers — 0 pts (0-0-0)
2. Stampeders — 0 pts (0-0-0)
3. Roughriders — 0 pts (0-0-0)
4. Elks — 0 pts (0-0-0)
5. Lions — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Tonight: Winnipeg at Calgary, 9 pm ET
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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