Veteran CFL receiver DaVaris Daniels announces retirement

TORONTO - DaVaris Daniels has called it a career. 

The veteran CFL receiver announced his retirement Tuesday night via social media. The 33-year-old native of Vernon Hills, Ill., played nine seasons with the Calgary Stampeders (2016-18), Edmonton Elks (2019) and Toronto Argonauts (2021-25), winning three Grey Cups.

"I have felt the highest this game has to offer and I have felt what it’s like to lose it all," Daniels wrote “But through every setback I found perseverance. I found gratitude.

"Nothing in life is ever promised. And through my faith I can see clearly now that God was preparing me for what was about to come. Things may not always happen when or the way you want them to — but he is always right and he is always right on time. I came out the other side grateful. Grateful to be on a team. Grateful to compete. Grateful for every single day I got to play this game."

B.C. Lions add American offensive lineman Joshua Coker to roster

VANCOUVER - The B.C. Lions added experience and flexibility to their roster on Monday with the signing of American offensive lineman Joshua Coker.

The six-foot-two, 336-pound Coker joined the Lions after playing 43 regular-season games for the Calgary Stampeders from 2021-25.

The Chicago native made 11 starts at right tackle in 2023 with the Stamps, who that season allowed only 24 sacks, which was third lowest in the CFL. He made his CFL playoff debut in the 2023 West Division semifinal against the Lions.

He then started 29 more games over the past two seasons, seeing action at both tackle positions.

Ottawa Redblacks sign veteran Canadian centre Sean McEwen

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Redblacks signed veteran Canadian centre Sean McEwen on Monday.

The six-foot-one, 295-pound McEwen spent last season with the Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders but didn't play for the team after suffering a season-ending knee injury during training camp.

McEwen, 32, has appeared in 132 career regular-season games with the Calgary Stampeders (2021-24) and Toronto Argonauts (2016-19). He has earned all-CFL honours three times (2017, 21, 22).

“Sean is a competitor who will bring a veteran presence to our offensive line room,” Ryan Dinwiddie, Ottawa's head coach/GM, said in a statement. "He’s a champion who will contribute to what we’re building on our offensive line and help set the standard for some of the young players we have in the building.”

Steelers WR DK Metcalf will not face charges for an in-game altercation with a Detroit Lions fan

DETROIT (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf will not face any charges stemming from an incident with a Detroit Lions fan during a game last December.

The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday that it will not pursue a criminal complaint against Metcalf following an investigation into the incident between Metcalf and Ryan Kennedy. 

CBS cameras caught Metcalf and Kennedy, a Lions fan wearing a blue wig and a blue and black shirt that aligned with Detroit’s colors, having an exchange along the rail in the second quarter of Pittsburgh’s 29-24 victory on Dec. 21.

Kennedy leaned over the railing during the exchange, and the blue wig fell forward to cover his face. The interaction ended with Metcalf reaching toward Kelly’s head with his right arm, though he didn’t appear to make much, if any, contact.

Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Picton announces his CFL retirement

REGINA - Mitch Picton is calling it a career.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver announced his retirement Friday. The 30-year-old Regina native played nine seasons with the CFL club.

Picton will go out as a champion, having helped the Riders down Montreal 25-17 in the 2025 Grey Cup game at Winnipeg's Princess Auto Stadium.

Saskatchewan selected Picton in the fifth round, No. 37 overall, out of Regina in the 2017 CFL draft. He appeared in 94 career regular-season games, registering 96 catches for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns.

Backup quarterback P.J. Walker tells Stampeders he’s retiring from football

CALGARY - Quarterback P.J. Walker has informed the Calgary Stampeders he's retiring from football, the CFL club announced Thursday.

Walker signed with Calgary in October 2024 and spent his time with the club on the practice roster. The 31-year-old American served as the Stampeders backup quarterback last season behind starter Vernon Adams Jr., making one start in the 13 games he suited up for.

Walker also spent time with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts (2017-19), Carolina Panthers (2020-22), Chicago Bears (2023), Cleveland Browns (2023) and Seattle Seahawks (2024) as well as the XFL's Houston Roughnecks (2019) before coming to Canada.

The Stampeders also released Canadian linebacker Nicky Farinaccio. American defensive backs Brady Breeze and Lance Robinson both retired.

Eva Havaris appointed as chief operating officer of Football Canada

OTTAWA - Football Canada appointed Eva Havaris as its chief executive officer Wednesday.

Havaris will assume her new role June 8.

She joins amateur football's national governing body with over 20 years of experience as a sport executive. That includes time spent as the CEO of Equestrian Canada and Taekwondo Canada as well as senior vice-president of Tennis Canada.

Havaris also served in a founding executive role with the Canadian Premier League.

CFL teams load up on punters, kickers in league’s 2026 global draft

TORONTO - He went first overall in the CFL's global draft Wednesday, but the Ottawa Redblacks will have to wait for South African punter Aidan Laros.

That's because the six-foot-two, 218-pound Laros signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the NFL draft Saturday. Laros posted a 44.5-yard punting average at Kentucky last season.

"We knew that going in," said Ryan Dinwiddie, Ottawa's head coach/GM. "We feel like we've got some good punters right now, so we wanted to draft a future guy so we could always have someone in the pipeline."

Veteran Richie Leone handled punting duties for Ottawa in 2025, averaging 45.1 yards over 98 attempts. But the 34-year-old American is reportedly pondering retirement.

Stampeders sign quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. to two-year extension

CALGARY - The Calgary Stampeders signed quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. to a two-year extension Thursday that will keep him with the club through the 2028 CFL season.

Adams, acquired in a trade from the B.C. Lions after the 2024 campaign, went 11-6 as a starter in his first season with Calgary.

The 33-year-old threw for 4,247 yards with 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions over 17 regular-season games last year.

He also rushed for 332 yards and two touchdowns while adding two two-point conversions on the ground.

Ottawa Redblacks take Purdue offensive lineman Vaccaro first overall in CFL draft

TORONTO - He came into the CFL draft as the projected first overall pick and Giordano Vaccaro lived up to that billing Tuesday night.

The Ottawa Redblacks used the No. 1 selection to take the six-foot-two, 307-pound Purdue offensive lineman. Vaccaro, of Winnipeg, appeared in all 12 games with the Boilermakers last season, seeing action on offence and special teams.

Vaccaro spent his first three collegiate campaigns at the University of Manitoba, cracking the Bisons' starting lineup as an 18-year-old freshman. Twice he was an all-Canadian (2023, '24) and in 2024 was U Sports football's top down lineman before transferring to Purdue.

"He has impressed us at every step of this process, from what he’s put on tape to getting to know him as a person and talking with his coaches at Purdue and the University of Manitoba," Ryan Dinwiddie, Ottawa's head coach/GM, said of Vaccaro. "We can’t wait to get him in the building and on the field next week and we’re excited to welcome Giordano and his family to the nation’s capital.”

CP NewsAlert: Ottawa Redblacks take Vaccaro first overall in CFL draft

TORONTO - The Ottawa Redblacks have selected Purdue offensive lineman Giordano Vaccaro first overall in tonight's CFL draft.

More coming.

CFL to change when it begins its season and adopt new playoff format in 2027

TORONTO - The CFL will kick off its season earlier and revamp its playoff format in 2027.

Next year, the CFL's regular season will kick off the Victoria Day weekend in May, its earliest start ever. 

The '26 campaign opens June 4 with the Montreal Alouettes visiting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“All summer long, the CFL will be front and centre -- exactly where it belongs," commissioner Stewart Johnston said in a statement. "We’re establishing CFL long weekends, from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, to create can’t-miss events for fans in the stadium and those watching at home."

Winnipeg native Giordano Vaccaro projected to go first overall in CFL draft

What began as a dream years ago is very close to becoming a reality for Giordano Vaccaro.

Pro football wasn’t something Vaccaro pondered until he enrolled at the University of Manitoba in 2022 and started as a freshman. Now the six-foot-two, 307-pound Purdue offensive lineman is projected to go first overall in Tuesday night’s CFL draft.

"It was my first year in college when coach Dobie (Bisons head coach Brian Dobie) was like, 'Hey, you could make a career out of this,'" Vaccaro said. "That's something I'd never really thought about because I started playing football late (at Winnipeg's St. Paul's High School).

"Once I figured I could do this, that's when that switch kind of turned on. Obviously, as it gets closer, it's pretty surreal that I could be calling football my job."

Ottawa Redblacks sign Canadian Luiji Vilain to three-year deal

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Redblacks signed Canadian defensive lineman Luiji Vilain to a three-year contract Monday.

Ottawa acquired Vilain's rights last week from the Toronto Argonauts.

Vilain, a 28-year-old Ottawa native, played five games over two NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings (2022-23) and Carolina Panthers (2023), registering four total tackles. 

He also spent time with the Cleveland Browns (2024) and Dallas Cowboys (2024-25). 

Los Angeles Chargers select Canadian offensive lineman Taylor in NFL draft

Akheem Mesidor won't be the only Canadian rookie at the Los Angeles Chargers' training camp.

After taking Miami rush end Mesidor in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night, the Chargers selected Logan Taylor, a hulking offensive lineman at Boston College, in the sixth round Saturday, 202nd overall.

It's not the first time that's happened. In 2014, the Baltimore Ravens took defensive lineman Brent Urban, of Mississauga, Ont., in the fourth round out of Virginia before selecting Winnipeg's John Urschel, an offensive lineman at Penn State, in the fifth round.

The Chargers selected Mesidor, of Ottawa, with the 22nd overall pick, making him just the sixth Canadian-born player to go in the first round. But Mesidor became the first Canadian-born defensive player selected in the first round.