Samwise CFL Newsletter
Saturday, June 6, 2026
Alouettes Rally from 14 Down to Edge Tiger-Cats 30-27 in CFL Season Opener
The Montreal Alouettes rallied from a 24-10 third-quarter deficit to defeat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 30-27 in overtime, claiming the first two points of the 2026 CFL regular season and the top spot in the East Division. Davis Alexander threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-35 passing. Defensive back Robert Kennedy III’s pick-six late in the third quarter ignited the comeback, and kicker Jose Maltos Diaz forced overtime with a 29-yard field goal on the final play of regulation, capping a 13-play, 56-yard drive that included three third-down conversions. Maltos Diaz then split the uprights on a 17-yard attempt in overtime.
Castillo’s Walk-Off Field Goal Gives Blue Bombers 30-28 Win Over Stampeders
Sergio Castillo drilled a 38-yard walk-off field goal to lift the Winnipeg Blue Bombers past the Calgary Stampeders 30-28 in the first Friday Night Football game of the 2026 CFL season at McMahon Stadium. Winnipeg trailed by one point with 64 seconds remaining after Vernon Adams Jr. scored on a three-yard rush. Collaros connected with Wilson for 27 yards, then Oliveira runs put Castillo in range. Both Winnipeg running backs surpassed 100 rushing yards, as the Bombers avenged a 0-3 record against Calgary from 2025. The Stampeders fall to 0-1 at McMahon, which hosts the 113th Grey Cup in November.
Davis Alexander Extends CFL Record to 12-0 as a Regular-Season Starter
Montreal Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander extended his own CFL record for consecutive wins to begin a career to 12-0 after Thursday’s overtime victory over Hamilton. Alexander completed 25 of 35 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener. He missed most of the 2025 campaign with a hamstring injury, making just seven regular-season starts, then returned to lead Montreal to the Grey Cup before aggravating the injury in the Alouettes’ 25-17 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. His 12-0 mark applies to regular-season starts only; Thursday’s result confirmed the quarterback is healthy and back in winning form.
Ottawa Redblacks Place Greg Bell on Injured List Ahead of Season Opener
The Ottawa Redblacks will open the 2026 CFL season without running back Greg Bell, placed on the one-game injured list after a neck injury flared up on Thursday night despite a full week of practice. Bell is the second-highest-paid running back in the CFL and joined Ottawa as one of many free-agent additions under new head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie, who oversaw the most roster turnover of any CFL team heading into 2026. Quarterback Jake Maier, a free agent from the Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders, is set to make his Redblacks debut in Saturday evening’s home kickoff at TD Place.
Sources: 3DownNation
Edmonton Elks Start Two Rookie Wide Receivers in CFL Debuts Against Ottawa
The Edmonton Elks will start rookie wide receivers T.J. Luther and Joshua Cephus in Saturday’s season opener against the Ottawa Redblacks, marking CFL debuts for both American pass-catchers. Edmonton signed free-agent receiver Joe Robustelli in the off-season to bolster the receiving corps for quarterback Cody Fajardo, but Robustelli has been ruled out for the Week 1 matchup with a hamstring injury. Luther and Cephus were part of the Elks’ final roster following training camp cuts. Edmonton, which missed the playoffs in 2025, faces an Ottawa side also missing a key piece with running back Greg Bell on the injured list.
Sources: 3DownNation
Ill-Timed Turnovers Sink Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 30-27 CFL Season Opener Loss
Ill-timed turnovers cost the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in their 30-27 overtime loss to Montreal on Thursday in the CFL season opener. Bo Levi Mitchell completed 34 of 39 passes for 307 yards but threw one interception, and Hamilton led 24-10 midway through the third quarter before the Alouettes rallied. A fumble by receiver Keric Wheatfall on Hamilton’s opening overtime possession proved decisive: Robert Kennedy III forced the loose ball and teammate Kabion Ento pushed it out of bounds, setting up Jose Maltos Diaz’s game-winning 17-yard field goal. The post-game column from 3DownNation cited Hamilton’s ill-timed turnovers as the primary culprit in the defeat.
Sources: 3DownNation
Eastern Conference
Eastern Division
1. Montreal Alouettes — 2 pts (1-0-0)
2. Toronto Argonauts — 0 pts (0-0-0)
3. Ottawa REDBLACKS — 0 pts (0-0-0)
4. Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 0 pts (0-1-0)
Week 1 partial — EDM at OTT tonight
Western Conference
Western Division
1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 2 pts (1-0-0)
2. Saskatchewan Roughriders — 0 pts (0-0-0)
3. BC Lions — 0 pts (0-0-0)
4. Edmonton Elks — 0 pts (0-0-0)
5. Calgary Stampeders — 0 pts (0-1-0)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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