Samwise CFL Newsletter
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Charleston Hughes Named to Canadian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Charleston Hughes has been selected for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026, the CFL announced Wednesday. Hughes played 14 seasons and 202 games across Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Toronto from 2008 to 2022, accumulating 136 career sacks — fifth all-time in CFL history — and leading the league in sacks five times. He earned 11 playoff appearances, reached four Grey Cups, and won the championship with Calgary. Hughes joins Brandon Banks and Sean Millington in the 2026 class; the induction ceremony and Hall of Fame Game will take place September 17 and 18, with Montreal visiting Hamilton at Tim Hortons Field.
Sources: CFL.ca 3DownNation Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Tyson Philpot Setting Pace for Best Receiver Start in CFL History
Montreal Alouettes receiver Tyson Philpot has put together the best four-game start to a season by any receiver in CFL history, 3DownNation reported Wednesday. Philpot has recorded 36 receptions for 587 yards and three touchdowns through the Alouettes’ first four regular-season contests of 2026, surpassing the previous mark of 34 catches for 543 yards set by Adarius Bowman with Edmonton in 2016. Philpot has accounted for 39.7 percent of quarterback Davis Alexander’s passing yards this season and has positioned himself as an early front-runner for the Most Outstanding Player award. Montreal leads the East Division at 3-1 heading into the weekend.
Sources: 3DownNation Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Tiger-Cats Sign Doege, Name Dolegala Starter After Mitchell Carted Off in Winnipeg
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats confirmed Wednesday that quarterback Jake Dolegala will start against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday after Bo Levi Mitchell suffered a lower-body injury last Saturday against Winnipeg, head coach Scott Milanovich told reporters. Mitchell, who was carted from the field in an ambulance following a sack by Jake Ceresna, completed 18 of 29 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown before leaving. Hamilton also signed veteran quarterback Jarret Doege for depth — Doege, 28, dressed in 18 games with the Toronto Argonauts in 2025, completing 68.3 percent of his passes in three starts. Dolegala has not started a regular-season game since 2024.
Sources: 3DownNation 3DownNation Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Zach Collaros Questionable for Blue Bombers as Cameron Judge Also Ruled Out
Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros has been listed as questionable for Friday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts after sustaining a neck injury against Hamilton last Saturday, 3DownNation reported Wednesday. Collaros was sacked by Reggie Stubblefield in the second quarter and did not return, with Taylor Elgersma stepping in and guiding Winnipeg to a 14-13 victory over the Tiger-Cats. Head coach Mike O’Shea praised Elgersma after the win, saying he took care of the football and handled himself very well. Toronto is also dealing with a quarterback injury, as Cameron Judge has been ruled out due to a head injury.
Sources: 3DownNation CFL.ca Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Calgary Stampeders Add Former NFL Draft Pick BoPete Keyes at Defensive Back
The Calgary Stampeders have signed American defensive back BoPete Keyes, the club announced Wednesday. Keyes, 28, was a seventh-round pick (237th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL Draft and appeared with multiple organizations including the Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns. He made seven starts over 11 games with the San Antonio Brahmas in the United Football League across 2024 and 2025. Keyes most recently attended Alouettes training camp before being released among final cuts, then signed with Calgary, which sits at 2-2 in the West Division entering Week 6.
Sources: CFL.ca 3DownNation Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
A.J. Ouellette Returns from Ankle Injury for Saskatchewan’s Week 6 Showdown with Hamilton
Saskatchewan Roughriders star running back A.J. Ouellette is set to return for Week 6 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday after missing two games with an ankle injury, 3DownNation reported Wednesday. Ouellette, 30, sustained the ankle ailment in Saskatchewan’s Week 3 win over Calgary and sat out the team’s Week 4 loss to Toronto and Week 5 victory over Ottawa. The Roughriders, who enter the game atop the West Division at 3-1, will host Hamilton at Mosaic Stadium on July 12 with kickoff at 7 p.m. EDT. Hamilton faces its own quarterback uncertainty after Bo Levi Mitchell’s injury, with Jake Dolegala set to start.
Sources: 3DownNation Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Week 6 Opens Tonight: Winless Ottawa Searches for First Victory Against Surging Edmonton
The Ottawa Redblacks (0-4) travel to Commonwealth Stadium Thursday night for a Week 6 matchup against the Edmonton Elks (3-1) as Ottawa searches for its first victory of 2026, with kickoff at 9 p.m. EDT. The Redblacks will start Jeremy Lucien at boundary halfback after Bennett Williams was ruled out for the season with a torn Achilles, while Edmonton will debut Global linebacker Tyron Vrede, signed after his release by Saskatchewan. Both teams have struggled to run the ball — Ottawa owns the CFL’s worst rushing total at 261 yards, while Edmonton gave up just 19 yards to league-leading rusher Justin Rankin in last week’s loss to B.C.
Sources: 3DownNation Global News Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Eastern Division
East Division
1. Montréal Alouettes — 6 pts (3-1-0)
2. Toronto Argonauts — 4 pts (2-2-0)
3. Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 4 pts (2-2-0)
4. Ottawa Redblacks — 0 pts (0-4-0)
Western Division
West Division
1. Saskatchewan Roughriders — 6 pts (3-1-0)
2. Edmonton Elks — 6 pts (3-1-0)
3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 4 pts (2-2-0)
4. Calgary Stampeders — 4 pts (2-2-0)
5. B.C. Lions — 2 pts (1-3-0)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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