Samwise CFL Newsletter
Friday, June 19, 2026
B.C. Lions Receiver Corps Decimated Ahead of Hamilton Clash
The B.C. Lions are heading into Friday night's Week 3 game at Hamilton with a decimated receiving corps. Wide receivers Stanley Berryhill, Jevon Cottoy, and Seven McGee were all placed on the six-game injured list following last week's loss to Saskatchewan, while Keon Hatcher remains a game-time decision with a thigh injury. The Lions have reshuffled their lineup, with Kieran Poissant, Nick Cenacle, and Jermaine Jackson filling the gaps. B.C. will face the Tiger-Cats without four of their top pass-catching options, putting significant pressure on Nathan Rourke as the Lions look to avoid starting the season 0–2.
Sources: 3DownNation
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Bench Jamal Peters; McManis Misses Third Straight Game
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will also be short-handed when they host the B.C. Lions on Friday night. Starting cornerback Jamal Peters, who left last week's game with a concerning injury, has been officially ruled out for the Week 3 matchup. Zamari Walton and Devodric Bynum will step in to fill the secondary gap. In addition, prized free-agent linebacker Wynton McManis will miss his third consecutive game due to a knee injury, meaning the 2026 signing has yet to make his CFL debut with Hamilton. Despite the injuries, the Tiger-Cats enter Friday at 1–1 after a Week 2 victory.
Sources: 3DownNation
Montreal Alouettes Sign Award-Winning Returner Mario Alford
The Montreal Alouettes signed experienced American returner Mario Alford on Thursday, bolstering their special teams unit ahead of Saturday's road game against the Edmonton Elks. The 34-year-old had been in training camp with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats but was released after the first preseason game. In 11 regular-season games with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2025, Alford recorded 44 punt returns for 476 yards and 31 kickoff returns for 876 yards with one touchdown, adding three kickoff returns for 92 yards in the 112th Grey Cup. He holds the Roughriders' franchise record for most career return touchdowns with nine and was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2022.
Sources: 3DownNation
Winnipeg Blue Bombers to Honour Late Coach Cal Murphy with Ring of Honour Induction
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced Thursday that they will induct the late Cal Murphy into the Ring of Honour at Princess Auto Stadium, with the ceremony during halftime of the July 30 home game against B.C. Murphy, a Winnipeg native who passed away in 2012 at age 79, served as the club's general manager from 1983 to 1996 and head coach during two separate stints. He was twice named the CFL's Coach of the Year and won three Grey Cups with Winnipeg. Murphy was inducted into the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Sources: 3DownNation
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Add Two American Defensive Backs to Practice Roster
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed two American defensive backs to their practice roster on Thursday: Kaylin Moore and Matthew Jackson. Jackson, a safety out of Eastern Kentucky, recorded 294 career tackles and earned first-team all-conference recognition twice and third-team FCS All-American honours during his collegiate career. He signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Moore, a corner out of UCLA, recorded 37 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception, and nine pass breakups during his final college season, earning All-Big Ten honourable mention recognition before entering the CFL pipeline.
Sources: 3DownNation
B.C. Lions' Jacob Bond Addresses Costly Drops in Season-Opening Loss to Roughriders
B.C. Lions fullback Jacob Bond expressed frustration after dropping two critical passes in the season-opening 31–27 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, including the final play of the game. Bond, a former Canadian Junior Football League linebacker who converted to fullback, had never caught a CFL pass before Week 1. He was pressed into duty as a pass catcher because injuries left the Lions without enough healthy receivers, with his fullback group forced into service as the fifth receiving option. Despite the drops, Bond earned B.C.'s highest special teams grade and recorded two tackles in the contest.
Sources: 3DownNation
Montreal Leads East at 2-0 as Week 3 CFL Action Gets Underway
The Montreal Alouettes enter Week 3 as the CFL's only unbeaten team, sitting atop the Eastern Division at 2–0 after victories over the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In the West, defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan and the Edmonton Elks share first place at 1–0, while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are 1–1 after splitting their first two games. Ottawa and Toronto are the only winless clubs, each sitting at 0–1 in the East. Week 3 opens Friday with two games, headlined by Nathan Rourke and Bo Levi Mitchell squaring off in Hamilton.
Sources: CFL.ca
Eastern Conference
Eastern Division
1. Montreal Alouettes — 4 pts (2-0-0)
2. Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 2 pts (1-1-0)
3. Ottawa Redblacks — 0 pts (0-1-0)
4. Toronto Argonauts — 0 pts (0-1-0)
Western Conference
Western Division
1. Saskatchewan Roughriders — 2 pts (1-0-0)
2. Edmonton Elks — 2 pts (1-0-0)
3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 2 pts (1-1-0)
4. Calgary Stampeders — 0 pts (0-1-0)
5. B.C. Lions — 0 pts (0-1-0)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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