Samwise CFL Newsletter
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Tiger-Cats Visit Blue Bombers Tonight in Pivotal Early-Season Test
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1) travel to Princess Auto Stadium tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET to face the 1-0 Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the opening game of CFL Week 2. CFL.ca's three-keys preview highlights the importance of Winnipeg's rebuilt defensive front, led by off-season acquisition Jake Ceresna, who recorded three sacks in his Bombers debut last Friday in Calgary. Hamilton enters short-handed at linebacker after Wynton McManis missed the season opener and remains unavailable again tonight. The Blue Bombers have won their last five home matchups against Hamilton, with the Tiger-Cats' most recent win at Princess Auto Stadium coming in 2019. The game airs on TSN.
Sources: CFL.ca
Oliveira Chases History: First Canadian to Hit Five Straight 1,000-Yard Seasons
Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira is chasing history in 2026. According to CFL.ca's pre-week game notes published Wednesday, Oliveira is pursuing his fifth consecutive 1,000-plus rushing yard season, which would make him the first Canadian player to accomplish the feat in CFL history. He opened 2026 with 113 rushing yards in Winnipeg's 30-28 road win over the Calgary Stampeders in Week 1. Oliveira is tied with former Calgary Stampeders back Jon Cornish for the second-most 100-yard rushing games by a Canadian player in league history, with 22, behind only Andrew Harris's 29.
Sources: CFL.ca
TSN's Muamba Examines How Roughriders Can Handle the Championship Target
The Saskatchewan Roughriders enter 2026 as defending Grey Cup champions, and TSN analyst Henoc Muamba examined on Wednesday what that means for the club heading into the new season. In his 'Smokehouse' segment, Muamba focused on how the Roughriders will handle being the team every opponent is gunning for in 2026. He noted that Saskatchewan retained key pieces from its championship core, including quarterback Trevor Harris, running back AJ Ouellette, and veteran offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick. The Roughriders open their 2026 campaign this Saturday when they host the B.C. Lions at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
Sources: TSN
Roughriders Reveal Five Uniform Looks for 2026, Including New 'Prairie Blizzard' Kit
The Saskatchewan Roughriders unveiled their 2026 uniform schedule Wednesday, revealing five different looks for the season, including a brand-new design. The team will debut its 'Prairie Blizzard' uniforms in Week 4 against the Toronto Argonauts; a teaser released by the club shows a white Roughriders logo on a white uniform, fitting the name's reference to snow. The Roughriders will also wear their obsidian uniforms in Weeks 8 and 13, and their traditional retro uniforms for the Labour Day Classic against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In Week 20 against the Montreal Alouettes, the team will don a tribute uniform honouring the 1966 Grey Cup championship team.
Sources: 3DownNation
Argonauts Rule Out Herslow, Hendrix and Ulm for Friday's Game in Montreal
The Toronto Argonauts enter Friday's trip to Montreal without three key contributors. According to 3DownNation, the team has ruled out receiver Jake Herslow (hamstring) and defensive lineman DeWayne Hendrix (hamstring) for their Week 2 matchup against the Alouettes at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. Canadian receiver Nolan Ulm has also been ruled out due to a shoulder injury. The Argonauts, who had a Week 1 bye, open their 2026 season on Friday against the Montreal Alouettes, who are coming off a dramatic 30-27 overtime victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Week 1. Kickoff in Montreal is set for 7:00 p.m. ET.
Sources: 3DownNation
Woodbey Receives Maximum Fine; Two Others Penalized for Week 1 High Hits on QBs
The CFL handed out discipline Wednesday for three Week 1 incidents involving illegal contact on quarterbacks. According to 3DownNation, Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Jaiden Woodbey received the maximum allowable fine for a high hit delivered to Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. during Friday's game. Two other defenders, identified as Reavis and Dublanko, were also fined for their actions during Week 1. The CFL does not publicly announce fine dollar amounts; under the collective bargaining agreement, the maximum penalty is half the value of a game cheque. Woodbey, who recorded four tackles before leaving with a calf injury, has also been placed on the six-game injured list.
Sources: 3DownNation
Canadian Receiver Demski Cleared for Blue Bombers' Week 2 Home Opener
Veteran Canadian receiver Nic Demski has been cleared to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers ahead of tonight's Week 2 game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 3DownNation reported Wednesday. Demski, who appeared on the team's mid-week injury report, was listed as fully available for tonight's 8:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Princess Auto Stadium. His availability is notable for the Blue Bombers because Canadian starters factor into CFL import ratio requirements, and a healthy Demski provides starting depth at the receiver position. Winnipeg enters the game at 1-0 following their Week 1 road win in Calgary, while Hamilton visits at 0-1.
Sources: 3DownNation
Eastern Conference
Eastern Division
1. Montreal Alouettes — 2 pts (1-0-0)
2. Toronto Argonauts — 0 pts (0-0-0)
3. Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 0 pts (0-1-0)
4. Ottawa Redblacks — 0 pts (0-1-0)
Western Conference
Western Division
1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 2 pts (1-0-0)
2. Edmonton Elks — 2 pts (1-0-0)
3. Saskatchewan Roughriders — 0 pts (0-0-0)
4. B.C. Lions — 0 pts (0-0-0)
5. Calgary Stampeders — 0 pts (0-1-0)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency