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Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Grey Cup champs struggling as season hits halfway mark
While it's wild that the reigning Grey Cup champions could miss the post-season this year, it's also a damning indictment of what has been a messy 2025 campaign for the Toronto Argonauts. Indeed, Toronto's season has gone from bad to worse, and at 2-7 they are running out of time to turn things around. Much of the chaos can be traced back to the uncertainty surrounding No. 1 quarterback Chad Kelly, who has yet to play this year after breaking his leg in the Eastern Final last season. The team's handling of the situation hasn't been great, initially keeping him off the six-game injured list — which would have saved the club money on the salary cap — only to add him to the list in recent weeks. Had head coach Ryan Dinwiddie known he wouldn't have Kelly for much of the season, you'd think he would have brought in a more reliable backup than Nick Arbuckle — Grey Cup MVP honours be damned. But Arbuckle doesn't shoulder all the blame for a lack of execution and efficiency on the field; in fact, he's been one of their better performers. PETER POWER / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Toronto Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie continues to publicly criticize his team, contradicting his message to his players to not point fingers. PETER POWER / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Toronto Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie continues to publicly criticize his team, contradicting his message to his players to not point fingers. Dinwiddie publicly called out his team following a rough loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Week 3, and he was back at it again after a crushing 46-42 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday. How could you blame him after Toronto blew a 21-point first-quarter lead, surrendering six touchdowns and 373 yards through the air, along with an interception returned for a score. Dinwiddie didn't mince words in his assessment: 'I don't think those guys quit on us, but I think we've got some pretenders in the building that like to talk a big game and don't show up on game day. We just don't have enough dogs, man.' He didn't stop there either, taking a shot at his beleaguered offensive line when asked about Kelly's return, claiming: 'I don't know if I'd put him in front of that O-line.' Dinwiddie also criticized special teams, noting his displeasure with co-ordinator Mickey Donovan, while also placing blame on the players. This is all happening while Dinwiddie is simultaneously urging his players to ignore the headlines and 'find a way to do their individual self a benefit in playing better and having a better purpose walking in this building.' It's a contradictory message from a head coach who's giving the media plenty to talk about while telling his players not to point fingers. At 2-7 and sitting alone at the bottom of the East Division, I suppose all ideas for improvement should be considered. Dinwiddie's last public undressing of his team did result in a victory the following week. It's safe to say he's hoping for the same result this week when Toronto travels to take on another team trying to find its footing in the 2-6 Edmonton Elks. Although not unprecedented, the path from two wins at the midway point to the post-season is an extremely challenging one, especially with the risk of a divided locker room. No one's going to feel sorry for the Argos, though, not after their success last season, capturing a second Grey Cup in the last three seasons. While the Argos' struggles are a major story right now, there were plenty of other headlines across the league that caught my attention. Let's get into it in the latest edition of CFL Rundown. 1) B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke had his breakout moment, dismantling the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defence in a 41-38 overtime victory. The Canadian pivot looked composed and confident, throwing for a season-high 408 yards and two touchdowns. The win was a crucial one for the Lions, snapping Hamilton's six-game winning streak. Rourke finally got his timing down with Justin McInnis, as the leading receiver from a year ago hauled in eight catches for a game-high 159 yards. Running back James Butler was also a key factor, finishing with 85 yards rushing on 14 carries and adding another 55 yards through the air on four catches. The win improved the Lions' record to 4-5, keeping them in the competitive West Division playoff race. 2) It was a tale of two halves for the Tiger-Cats, who were a no-show in the first half, mustering only 60 net yards of offence. Bo Levi Mitchell came alive in the third quarter, with the Ticats scoring three consecutive touchdowns to turn a 13-7 deficit into a 28-20 lead. Costly mistakes would ultimately seal their fate. Kicker Marc Liegghio missed two field goals, and a crucial fumble by receiver Tim White in overtime set up the game-winning kick for the Lions. The Ticats had been playing with fire in their last two games — winning with late-game heroics — but this time, their luck finally ran out. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 3) The decision by Jason Maas to play an injured Davis Alexander in Week 7 against the Argos is looking even more questionable today. The Montreal Alouettes quarterback situation has become a mess, with McLeod Bethel-Thompson struggling mightily the last two weeks. His poor play contributed to a 23-22 loss to the Elks on Friday, where he was benched at halftime after throwing a costly pick-six. Now it's up to Caleb Evans to lead the way for a banged-up offence, as Bethel-Thompson has been added to the six-game injured list, putting his availability for the rest of the year in serious question. The team would have undoubtedly been in a better position had Maas treated Alexander's hamstring injury more seriously and will have an uphill battle trying to catch the Ticats for top spot in the East Division. 4) Kudos to Cody Fajardo for getting his revenge against his former team in fitting fashion. Down five with less than a minute remaining, Fajardo led the Elks to a much-needed win. He capped it off with a 15-yard touchdown pass to another former Alouette, Kaion Julien-Grant, with just 15 seconds remaining. The moment was especially pivotal as it was redemption for Julien-Grant, who had dropped a would-be game-winning touchdown in Week 9 in a narrow loss to Hamilton. The two embraced in a long hug after the game, a fitting symbol of redemption for both. At 2-6, the Elks are still in a deep hole, but this is a victory to build on. 5) Things just look so difficult for the Redblacks, which is probably why Dru Brown's body language isn't always suggesting he's having fun in the nation's capital. CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS Redblacks quarterback Dru Brown (left) brought Ottawa back from the dead on Saturday, leading the team to a 46-42 win despite being down 22-1 after the first quarter. CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS Redblacks quarterback Dru Brown (left) brought Ottawa back from the dead on Saturday, leading the team to a 46-42 win despite being down 22-1 after the first quarter. The Redblacks earned a second straight victory, this time against an Argos team also struggling with a 2-6 record. But it took everything from their gunslinger, who threw for 373 passing yards and a career-high five touchdown passes, to get the win. Ottawa trailed 22-1 after the first quarter, and things looked like they were only going to get worse until Brown took over. His stellar effort resulted in 100-yard performances from Bralon Addison and Justin Hardy, a duo that combined for three of the five touchdowns, with Eugene Lewis scoring the other two. At 3-6, Ottawa might have just kept its season alive, while the 2-7 Argos made it that much harder to defend their Grey Cup title. 6) The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were in a prime position to get back into the thick of the West Division race, but their momentum came crashing down with a heartbreaking one-point loss to the Calgary Stampeders. The Stamps clinched the victory with a walk-off 40-yard field goal by Rene Paredes, only one drive after the Bombers had taken the lead with a 63-yard boot from Sergio Castillo. It was a brutal defeat for the Bombers, who dropped to 4-4 and were swept in the three-game season series by the Stamps for the first time since 2016. With the win, Calgary improved to 6-3 and now has some breathing room in second place behind the 7-1 Roughriders. 7) When a team holds a seven-point lead at half and then only scores four points in the final two quarters, they don't deserve to win. Indeed, the Bombers offence is in a lot of trouble, and the issues run much deeper than quarterback Zach Collaros. The team's aging offensive line is struggling to protect Collaros, preventing him from going through his reads, nor can it consistently bully opposing defensive lines with a vicious run attack. Winnipeg is starting to look like the old Matt Nichols-led offence that was so heavily reliant on the play of running back Andrew Harris. We're seeing that again with Brady Oliveira, who accounted for 168 yards from scrimmage against the Stamps, including a team-high 100 yards through the air. Winnipeg's receiver group is thin without a healthy Dalton Schoen. Keric Wheatfall is clearly not a No. 1 receiver, and while Nic Demski has played well, the Bombers need more or better weapons if they want to contend for a Grey Cup. The defence is playing well enough to win, they need help on offence. 8) Taylor Elgersma, a Canadian quarterback and Bombers second-round draft pick, got his first taste of NFL pre-season action with the Green Bay Packers, becoming the first Canadian university QB to play in an exhibition game since the early 1980s. The 23-year-old entered the game with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, completing three of four passes for 24 yards on his lone drive, which finished the game. Elgersma signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent in May, dazzling scouts with his six-foot-five, 227-pound frame and athleticism. It's a great story and really cool to see another Canadian making a name for himself down south. MIKE ROEMER / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers second-round draft pick Taylor Elgersma (left) got his first taste of NFL action Saturday as the Green Bay Packers' late-game pre-season pivot. Elgersma is the first Canadian university quarterback to play in an exhibition game since the early 1980s. MIKE ROEMER / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers second-round draft pick Taylor Elgersma (left) got his first taste of NFL action Saturday as the Green Bay Packers' late-game pre-season pivot. Elgersma is the first Canadian university quarterback to play in an exhibition game since the early 1980s. Jeff HamiltonMultimedia producer Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University's journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff. Every piece of reporting Jeff produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Canada News.Net
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
Argonauts looking to extend mastery over rival Redblacks
(Photo credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images) The Toronto Argonauts look to continue their dominance of their provincial rival on Saturday afternoon when they host the Ottawa Redblacks. The Argonauts (2-6) recorded a 29-16 victory over the Redblacks (2-6) on June 29 to improve to 19-6 in the teams' meetings since Ottawa entered the league in 2014. Nick Arbuckle threw for 269 yards with one score in that contest and entered this week ranked second in the CFL in passing yards (2,334) and tied for second in touchdown passes (13). The reigning Grey Cup MVP threw for 327 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-31 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last weekend. Both scoring strikes went to Damonte Coxie, who set career highs in catches (nine) and receiving yards (187). Coxie leads the league in receiving yards (774) for the season. Unfortunately for the Argonauts, they allowed rookie Trey Vaval to score on a 93-yard kickoff return and a 97-yard punt return. 'It was huge,' Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. 'We gifted them three touchdowns, two on special teams and then the fumble (return TD). 'We're not playing good enough football to overcome some of that stuff. But we had a chance, just didn't make enough plays. Our special teams units, we've got to find a way to get better. A lot of missed tackles out there.' While the Argos fell short last week, the Redblacks returned from a bye and snapped a four-game losing streak with a 31-11 victory over the Calgary Stampeders on July 31. Dru Brown passed for 225 yards, highlighted by a pair of scoring strikes to Justin Hardy in the second quarter. The two-TD performance was the first in Hardy's CFL career. Crum threw for a touchdown and rushed for another in the earlier meeting against the Argonauts. 'We talk about stacking things and stacking wins,' Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce said, per the Ottawa Citizen. 'The only thing we're focused on now is stacking for (this Saturday). But definite positive things happened out there.'
CTV News
24-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Cody Fajardo set to start for Elks against Riders
Former Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo will start for the Edmonton Elks Friday night against the Green and White at Mosaic Stadium. Fajardo was listed as the starter on the Elks' depth chart, released Thursday morning. Trevor Harris will start for the Riders (5-1). Fajardo spent three seasons with the Riders (2019, 2021, 2022) emerging as the Green and White's starting pivot in 2019 when he led the CFL with 4,302 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions, helping the Riders to a 13-5 regular season record, losing just once at home. Fajardo then threw for 366 yards and an interception in the 2019 West Final in a losing effort to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Before departing Rider Nation in February 2023 Fajardo posted a heartfelt letter to Rider fans on social media. Fajardo signed with Montreal after departing Saskatchewan and went on to win the 2023 Grey Cup with the Alouettes. He was also named Grey Cup MVP in Montreal's 28-24 win over Winnipeg. Kickoff at Mosaic Stadium Friday night is 7 p.m. -With files from TSN
Edmonton Journal
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Elks dodge self-inflicted bullet to earn first win of season
But the methodically improving herd came up with its first win of the season and earliest victory in recent memory, defeating the Ottawa Redblacks 39-33 on Sunday to end what has to feel like a much more manageable 0-3 start, by comparison. And it came in a crucial week where both the B.C. Lions and Calgary Stampeders looked to start pulling away in the standings, breathing — dare we say — a little life into the upstart Elks? It marked the first win of many more to come in the head-coaching career of the freshly minted Mark Kilam, who came aboard following an unheard-of 17-year entrenchment as an assistant coach with the same club (don't hold it against him that it was the rival Stampeders). So, he must be doing something right. And now he is being tasked with steering the turnaround in Edmonton alongside newly repatriated general manager Ed Hervey, all the while reminding themselves of the prime directive: Win. Or at least don't embarrass their already gun-shy fanbase in the pursuit of victory. But the gun with which past EE iterations shot themselves in the foot on far too many occasions ended up coming dangerously close to coming out of its holster again against Ottawa. To set the scene, the Elks exploded to an impressive 22-3 lead midway through the second quarter with their fastest, best and most efficient start in a good long while, looking like they were well on their way to running up the score against an outmatched opponent. And, truth be told, that would have been exactly what the doctor ordered to help begin curing the malaise that's ran rampant in the seats at Commonwealth Stadium. The empty ones, at least. Things were going so well, it was almost too good to be true. At that moment, the Elks opted for a quarterback change in order to get Cody Fajardo some much needed game action. Remember him? He's only two years removed from being named Grey Cup MVP with the Montreal Alouettes and was brought in to help along the development of young Tre Ford — who completed a career-best 15-of-17 passes with two touchdowns. Now, obviously Fajardo both deserves and needs some snaps. And the sooner they come in the season, the better for the team down the road. But instead of tightening their grip on an already suffocating opponent in the closest thing there could be to a must-win game in the first week of July, the Elks let go. Just a little, mind you. But it was all the wiggle room the Redblacks needed, answering back with a touchdown before forcing a 2-and-out that they returned to the end zone to make it a one-score game heading into halftime. In the blink of an eye. Fortunately for these Elks, they showed they are no longer 'those' Elks and didn't blow a commanding lead by taking their foot off the gas, even if it was just a little. Instead, they regained control of the would-be runaway train and held onto that one-score lead, much to the relief of those in attendance who got to celebrate a hard-fought home victory. Even if it was far from the blowout it had been shaping up to be. At this point in the proceedings, no win is a bad win in Edmonton. There is such a thing as a bad loss, however. And these Elks just gained some ground in the ongoing race to outrun their former selves by avoiding one. On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge
Ottawa Citizen
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Davis: Please explain how the Saskatchewan Roughriders aren't 0-3 this CFL season
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have every reason to be winless this CFL season. Article content Injuries, a tough road schedule, repeatedly falling behind 7-0, too many penalties and a reliable kicker who no longer seems reliable. All good excuses for a 0-3 record. Article content Article content Yet the Roughriders are undefeated. Playing exclusively against winless East teams, the Roughriders improved to 3-0 by overcoming another fourth-quarter wobble and scoring an improbable, game-winning touchdown on Mario Alford's 99-yard, last-second kickoff return. Article content Article content Article content 'We could definitely do better,' fourth-year Roughriders linebacker A.J. Allen, who recorded his first quarterback sack against Grey Cup MVP Nick Arbuckle, said during a postgame interview. Article content 'But there's always room for improvement. And we won the game.' Article content It was the third straight time Saskatchewan's defence surrendered the game's first touchdown. The Riders were also playing a second road game in six days while missing injured receivers Kian Schaffer-Baker and Sam Emilus, offensive linemen Sean McEwen and Payton Collins and linebacker C.J. Avery. Article content While Allen again replaced Avery on a defence that stopped Toronto's offence three times on goal-to-go situations in the second quarter, receiver Dohnte Williams stepped up offensively with two touchdowns on four catches for 125 yards. Article content Article content Running behind a pieced-together offensive line that allowed only one sack, A.J. Ouellette had 91 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, plus unstoppable short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens added a touchdown and 30 yards on six carries. Article content Article content It was a vicious contest, sparked by a low, illegal-block penalty against Riders receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby that knocked Argos linebacker Kenneth George Jr. out of the game. Article content The play wasn't initially penalized, but the Command Centre intervened to impose a 10-yarder in a game that eventually saw 29 penalties assessed for 307 yards. One play later, Argos defensive lineman Jordan Williams was penalized for a dirty hit on Riders QB Trevor Harris. Article content 'It was a disaster,' said Riders head coach Corey Mace. 'In this league you really make it tough to win when you're giving away free yards. Article content 'We obviously have to get better at that. But to be able to come out here against the defending Grey Cup champions and Grey Cup MVP and walk out with a win on a short week, we feel good about that.'
