Samwise CFL Newsletter
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Rankin, Philpot and Brown each earn their third Player of the Week honour of 2026
The CFL announced its Week 6 Player of the Week honours on Tuesday, with Edmonton Elks running back Justin Rankin, Montreal Alouettes receiver Tyson Philpot and Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Dru Brown each winning the award for the third time. Rankin rushed 14 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 43 yards and a score in Edmonton's 40-17 win over Ottawa. Philpot caught nine of 10 targets for 132 yards and a touchdown in Montreal's 37-30 defeat of Calgary. Brown, starting in place of injured Zach Collaros, completed 25 of 31 passes for 339 yards and a touchdown in a 30-21 win over Toronto.
Collaros returns to practice but Dru Brown continues holding first-team reins in Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros returned to practice Tuesday but Dru Brown is still taking first-team repetitions, TSN reported. Head coach Mike O'Shea said Collaros is "working" to return but offered no firm timeline. Collaros suffered a neck injury in Week 5 against Hamilton and was absent for last Friday's 30-21 victory over Toronto. Brown stepped in and completed 25 of 31 passes for 339 yards and a touchdown in that win, earning recognition as one of the CFL's three players of the week for a third time. Brown was acquired from Ottawa in a trade earlier this season.
Sources: 3DownNation TSN Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Ottawa Redblacks sign American defensive back Dionte Ruffin to bolster their secondary
The Ottawa Redblacks have signed American defensive back Dionté Ruffin, 27, the team announced Tuesday. Ruffin played eight regular-season games with the Montreal Alouettes last season, making five starts and recording 11 defensive tackles. The five-foot-ten, 177-pound defender from Kenner, Louisiana, first joined the Alouettes in 2023 and over two seasons made 29 starts, recording 79 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, five interceptions, one forced fumble and one touchdown. Ruffin also played nine regular-season games with the Calgary Stampeders in 2022, recording 39 defensive tackles and one special teams tackle.
Sources: 3DownNation Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Saskatchewan Roughriders sell out 2026 Labour Day Classic against Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have sold out the 2026 Labour Day Classic against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the team confirmed Tuesday. Both clubs are coming off strong Week 6 performances — Saskatchewan routed Hamilton 38-7 on Sunday while Winnipeg downed Toronto 30-21 on Friday. The sellout comes as both teams are among the West Division's most competitive clubs, with Saskatchewan having won four of their first five games. Winnipeg has also won two consecutive games with Dru Brown at quarterback in place of the injured Zach Collaros, giving the Labour Day matchup the look of a heavyweight clash.
Sources: 3DownNation Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Winnipeg make biggest climb in weekly CFL power rankings as Montreal, Edmonton and Saskatchewan hold firm
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers made the week's biggest climb in the CFL's AMSOIL power rankings published Tuesday, while Montreal, Edmonton and Saskatchewan all took care of business in Week 6 to maintain stability at the top. CFL.ca described the Alouettes as continuing "to look like the CFL's most complete team," with Davis Alexander throwing for 301 yards, Tyson Philpot adding 132 receiving yards and Travis Theis nearly reaching 100 yards on the ground against Calgary. Winnipeg's climb came after Dru Brown threw for 339 yards and Ontaria Wilson surpassed 130 receiving yards, while Willie Jefferson and Jake Ceresna dominated on defence against Toronto.
Tommy Stevens becoming Saskatchewan Roughriders’ go-to closer with five rushing touchdowns in five games
Through five regular-season games, Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Tommy Stevens has become a dangerous weapon in scoring situations, rushing 25 times for 109 yards and five touchdowns at an average of 4.3 yards per carry. A 3DownNation feature published Tuesday profiled the six-foot-four, 245-pound Stevens, noting his talent for closing out games for a Roughriders squad that went 4-1 in their first five contests. Starting quarterback Trevor Harris calls Stevens "Tommy Time," while running back A.J. Ouellette dubbed him the "closer of the century." Stevens' five rushing touchdowns are particularly striking given his role as a specialist who is not the team's primary starter at quarterback.
Sources: 3DownNation Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
New BC Lions special teams coordinator Dennis McKnight targets better technique after returning from bye week
Newly hired BC Lions special teams coordinator Dennis McKnight said his first priority after joining the team is teaching better technique to a unit he believes has the athleticism to excel. McKnight, 66, who most recently served as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' special teams coordinator for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, was hired to replace Cory McDiarmid, who was fired in late June. The Lions are returning from a bye week in preparation for a Friday night matchup against the Edmonton Elks in Edmonton. "Now, if we can take this physicality that they have and tighten up the technique, we're gonna be good," McKnight said Tuesday, adding that "Technique is everything."
Sources: 3DownNation Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Eastern Conference
Eastern Division
1. Alouettes — 8 pts (4-1-0)
2. Argonauts — 4 pts (2-3-0)
3. Tiger-Cats — 4 pts (2-3-0)
4. Redblacks — 0 pts (0-5-0)
Western Conference
Western Division
1. Roughriders — 8 pts (4-1-0)
1. Elks — 8 pts (4-1-0)
3. Blue Bombers — 6 pts (3-2-0)
4. Stampeders — 4 pts (2-3-0)
5. Lions — 2 pts (1-3-0)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency