Samwise CFL Newsletter
Monday, June 22, 2026
Bo Levi Mitchell Ties Career High with Five TDs as Tiger-Cats Defeat Short-Handed Lions 41-27
Bo Levi Mitchell tied his career high with five touchdown passes as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats beat the short-handed B.C. Lions 41-27 at Tim Hortons Field on Friday. Mitchell completed 15 of 18 passes for 285 yards, with Hamilton scoring four touchdowns on its six first-half possessions. The Lions arrived without receivers Stanley Berryhill III, Jevon Cottoy, Seven McGee and Keon Hatcher Sr., each dealing with thigh or foot injuries, while Kieran Poissant and Canadian Justin McInnis were both hurt during the contest. Nathan Rourke threw for 291 yards and a touchdown for B.C. (0-2) but was sacked three times. The win was Hamilton’s second straight.
Sources: Global News, 3DownNation
Tommy Stevens Scores in Overtime as Roughriders Edge Stampeders 40-37 in Wild Finish
Trevor Harris threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns as the Saskatchewan Roughriders survived a late Calgary comeback to win 40-37 in overtime Saturday at McMahon Stadium. Harris completed 23 of 36 passes while Kian Schaffer-Baker caught a pair of his touchdowns. Backup quarterback Tommy Stevens scored on a short-yardage run in overtime to seal the Roughriders’ win and improve the team to 2-0. Calgary’s Vernon Adams Jr. threw a touchdown to Tevin Jones in the final minute of regulation to force overtime, while Tyreik McAllister had a 120-yard touchdown return for the Stampeders (0-2). Winds gusting over 50 km/h swayed the goalposts throughout.
Sources: Global News, TSN
Justin Rankin Powers Elks to 32-29 Overtime Win, Hands Davis Alexander First Loss
Running back Justin Rankin rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns as the Edmonton Elks outlasted the Montreal Alouettes 32-29 in overtime Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium. Rankin scored on runs of 36 and 47 yards in the third quarter to give Edmonton a 20-13 lead, but Montreal kicker Jose Maltos Díaz tied the game 26-26 with a 31-yard field goal as time expired in regulation. In overtime, quarterback Cody Fajardo ran for a six-yard touchdown after a Rankin fumble was ruled out of bounds off a Montreal defender. Edmonton improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2019 while handing Montreal pivot Davis Alexander his first regular-season loss.
Sources: CFL.ca, Global News
Chad Kelly Throws for 424 Yards and Four TDs as Argonauts Top REDBLACKS 44-24
Chad Kelly threw for 424 yards and four touchdowns but also tossed four interceptions as the Toronto Argonauts beat the Ottawa REDBLACKS 44-24 Saturday at TD Place, securing their first win of the 2026 season. Kelly completed 25 of 32 passes and connected on his first 13 attempts. Receivers Kevin Mital (178 yards on eight catches), Damonte Coxie, David Ungerer III and Makai Polk each found the end zone. Ottawa backup safety Scott Hutter collected the first two interceptions of his seven-year CFL career in the second half, as Kelly forced several throws into coverage. The Argonauts visit Saskatchewan in Week 4 on June 26.
Sources: CFL.ca, 3DownNation
Six Receivers Sidelined as B.C. Lions’ Receiving Corps Hit Hard by Injuries
The B.C. Lions’ receiving corps was severely depleted heading into and during their 41-27 Week 3 loss to Hamilton on Friday. Receivers Stanley Berryhill III, Jevon Cottoy, Seven McGee and Keon Hatcher Sr. were all sidelined, each dealing with thigh or foot injuries, while Kieran Poissant and Canadian Justin McInnis were both hurt during the contest, further thinning an already short-handed group. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke completed 24 of 35 passes for 291 yards and a touchdown despite the depleted cast but was sacked three times. B.C. (0-2) begins Week 4 with significant uncertainty at the receiver position.
Sources: Global News, 3DownNation
Sean Millington Named to Canadian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Former B.C. Lions running back Sean Millington has been announced as the second inductee of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. The Vancouver native, the first overall pick in the 1990 CFL Draft, rushed for 6,086 yards and scored 87 touchdowns over a 13-season career with B.C., Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto. Millington, a three-time CFL all-star and five-time West Division all-star, won Grey Cups with the Lions in 1994 and 2000. He joins Brandon Banks as a 2026 inductee. The induction ceremony is set for September 17 in Hamilton, the night before the annual Hall of Fame Game featuring the Alouettes visiting the Tiger-Cats.
Sources: 3DownNation, Global News
Roughriders and Elks Lead West at 2-0 After Week 3 Overtime Victories
After a four-game Week 3 slate over the weekend, the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Elks lead the West Division with matching 2-0 records, each earning overtime wins Saturday. The West’s early-season leaders enter Week 4 as the only unbeaten clubs in the league. In the East, the Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats are tied at 2-1, with Ottawa winless at 0-2. The Toronto Argonauts moved to 1-1 with their first win of 2026. Out West, the Calgary Stampeders and B.C. Lions are both 0-2, while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers held a bye in Week 3 and sit at 1-1.
Sources: TSN CFL Standings, 3DownNation
Chad Kelly’s Four Interceptions Raise Turnover Concerns for the Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly’s 424-yard, four-touchdown performance against Ottawa on Saturday was clouded by four interceptions, three of which came in the second half. Kelly completed his first 13 passes of the game but turned the ball over repeatedly after halftime, including a pick by linebacker Lucas Cormier on the final play of the third quarter. Ottawa backup safety Scott Hutter collected the first two interceptions of his seven-year CFL career. Kelly’s five interceptions on the season top all other CFL quarterbacks by three. Head coach Mike Miller says the turnover trend will not change the Argonauts’ approach.
Sources: 3DownNation
Eastern Conference
Eastern Division
1. Montreal Alouettes — 4 pts (2-1-0)
2. Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 4 pts (2-1-0)
3. Toronto Argonauts — 2 pts (1-1-0)
4. Ottawa REDBLACKS — 0 pts (0-2-0)
Western Conference
Western Division
1. Saskatchewan Roughriders — 4 pts (2-0-0)
2. Edmonton Elks — 4 pts (2-0-0)
3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 2 pts (1-1-0)
4. B.C. Lions — 0 pts (0-2-0)
5. Calgary Stampeders — 0 pts (0-2-0)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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