Football

Alexander, Philpot, Singer named top players for final month of CFL season

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 2:01 PM CDT

TORONTO - Montreal Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander and receiver Tyson Philpot, along with Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Dorian Singer, have been named the CFL's players of the month for October.

Alexander posted 843 passing yards and six touchdowns with just one interception over two games.

That included 403 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in a 44-24 win over Saskatchewan on Oct. 12.

Philpot caught 16 passes for 281 yards and one touchdown during the month, while also breaking the single-season Canadian records for receptions and receiving yards in an Oct. 3 win over Winnipeg. He finished the regular season with 124 catches for 1,809 yards and 13 touchdowns.

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Football

Argos, Lions look to make home field an advantage in CFL semifinal games

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Argos, Lions look to make home field an advantage in CFL semifinal games

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press 4 minute read 1:37 PM CDT

Brady Oliveira and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are taking the path less travelled to the Grey Cup.

Winnipeg visits the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday afternoon in the East semifinal. Winnipeg opens the playoffs as a crossover team, having finished fourth in the West Division standings but with a better record (9-9) than the third-place Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-12).

Winnipeg becomes the 14th crossover team — all from the West — since the CFL adopted the format in 1996. Those teams have a 5-8 all-time record in the East playoffs and none have reached the Grey Cup.

This marks the second straight year Winnipeg has been the crossover club. The Bombers lost 42-33 to the Montreal Alouettes in the 2025 East semifinal.

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1:37 PM CDT

Football

Calgary Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson, centre, watches drills during opening day of training camp in Calgary, Sunday, May 10, 2026.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Dave Dickenson to return as head coach and GM of the Calgary Stampeders

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Dave Dickenson to return as head coach and GM of the Calgary Stampeders

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: 11:37 AM CDT

CALGARY - Dave Dickenson will return as coach and general manager of the Calgary Stampeders next season, getting another chance to turn the team's fortunes around after it missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.

A Stampeders official confirmed Dickenson's return to The Canadian Press on Wednesday.

Dickenson, a former star quarterback with Calgary and the B.C. Lions, has been the Stampeders' head coach since 2016. He added general manager to his duties in 2023.

Dickenson expressed a desire to return to both roles during his season-ending media availability Sunday.

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Updated: 11:37 AM CDT

Football

Davis Alexander, Tyson Philpot and Cody Fajardo named as CFL MOP finalists

The Canadian Press 3 minute read 11:04 AM CDT

TORONTO - The CFL's deadliest passing combo and a veteran quarterback coming off a career year are the finalists for the league's outstanding player award.

Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander and Alouettes receiver Tyson Philpot, along with Edmonton Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo, were announced Wednesday as the finalists for the CFL's George Reed Most Outstanding Player award.

Alexander threw for 5,257 yards and 35 TDs this season, joining Alouettes offensive co-ordinator Anthony Calvillo as the only two Montreal players to crack the 5,000-yard plateau. Alexander also sported a 72.1 completion percentage and had a CFL-high 37 completions of 30-plus yards.

Philpot, of Delta, B.C., led the CFL in catches (124), yards (1,809), 30-plus yard receptions (14) and yards after the catch (750) and was tied with teammate Tyler Snead for most TD grabs (both 13). Philpot also set league marks for most catches and yards in a season by a Canadian player and is a finalist for the league's top Canadian award.

Football

Elks extend head coach Mark Kilam through 2029 after best season in a decade

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Elks extend head coach Mark Kilam through 2029 after best season in a decade

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 10:32 AM CDT

EDMONTON - The Edmonton Elks have extended head coach Mark Kilam's contract through the CFL 2029 season after he led the club to its best regular season in more than a decade.

The 47-year-old from Lethbridge, Alta., guided the Elks to a West Division-best 13-5 record in 2026, including an 8-1 mark at Commonwealth Stadium.

Those are Edmonton's best regular-season and home records since its last Grey Cup season in 2015, when the club went 14-4 with a 7-1 mark at Commonwealth.

The Elks clinched their first playoff berth since 2019 this season and will host a playoff game for the first time since 2015 in the West Division final on Nov. 7.

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10:32 AM CDT

Football

Ed Hervey once oversaw a championship turnaround in Edmonton. Can he do it again?

John Korobanik, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Ed Hervey once oversaw a championship turnaround in Edmonton. Can he do it again?

John Korobanik, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 11:52 AM CDT

EDMONTON - Can lightning strike twice for Ed Hervey and the Edmonton Elks?

In his first stint as the then-named Eskimos' general manager, Hervey took over a 4-14 team and in two seasons helped turn it into a 14-4 team that won Edmonton's last Grey Cup in 2015.

In his second stint as GM, the former CFL all-star receiver assumed control of a team that had missed the playoffs for six straight years. Two seasons later, the club is first in the CFL West Division and waiting to host the 2026 division final.

Other major changes contributed to the turnaround, including the sale of the team to Larry and Deb Thompson and the hiring of Chris Morris as president and Mark Kilam as head coach.

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Updated: 11:52 AM CDT

Football

Playoff-bound Blue Bombers sweep top player awards for final week of CFL season

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Playoff-bound Blue Bombers sweep top player awards for final week of CFL season

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Yesterday at 1:49 PM CDT

WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers swept the CFL top player awards for the final week of the regular-season, with quarterback Dru Brown, running back Brady Oliveira and receiver Dorian Singer earning the honours.

Brown replaced injured starter Zach Collaros with 3:21 remaining in the third quarter and the Blue Bombers trailing 10-3 in Winnipeg's must-win game against the B.C. Lions on Friday in Vancouver.

The quarterback completed all 11 of his pass attempts for 185 yards and two touchdowns without an interception as the Bombers won 34-10 and earned a crossover to claim the third seed in the East Division.

Oliveira rushed 15 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns, including a 63-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter, and finished with 172 yards from scrimmage.

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Yesterday at 1:49 PM CDT

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Saskatchewan Roughriders' Trevon Tate (64) and teammate Payton Collins (62) lead teammates as they run onto the field prior to first half CFL football action against the Montreal Alouettes at the 112th Grey Cup, in Winnipeg on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Roughriders re-sign offensive lineman Payton Collins to one-year extension

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Roughriders re-sign offensive lineman Payton Collins to one-year extension

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Yesterday at 12:08 PM CDT

REGINA - The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American offensive lineman Payton Collins to a one-year contract extension, the CFL club announced Tuesday.

Collins joined the Roughriders in May 2025 and earned the starting left tackle job out of training camp as a rookie.

The 25-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, has started all 29 regular-season games he has played over two seasons, totalling 1,826 snaps.

His play has helped quarterback Trevor Harris lead the CFL with 5,370 passing yards this season and enabled backup Tommy Stevens to set two seasonal records with 17 rushing touchdowns — setting new marks for the franchise and for CFL quarterbacks.

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Yesterday at 12:08 PM CDT

Football

Rourke, Oliveira and Philpot named as finalists for CFL’s top Canadian award

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Rourke, Oliveira and Philpot named as finalists for CFL’s top Canadian award

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 11:06 AM CDT

TORONTO - B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke is in the running to defend his CFL top Canadian award.

Rourke was named as a finalist for the honour. He was the league's top Canadian and outstanding player last season.

Rourke, of Victoria, threw for 4,614 yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 70.5 per cent of his passes. He also ran for 356 yards — averaging 11.5 yards per carry — with three touchdowns.

Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira — the CFL's top Canadian in 2023-24 and its outstanding player in 2024 — and Montreal receiver Tyson Philpot are the other finalists.

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Yesterday at 11:06 AM CDT

Football

Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly (12) throws the ball during first-half CFL action against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Winnipeg on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Argonauts sign QB Chad Kelly to five-year extension worth over $1M a year

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Argonauts sign QB Chad Kelly to five-year extension worth over $1M a year

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:29 PM CDT

TORONTO - Chad Kelly has again reset the quarterback market in the CFL.

The Toronto Argonauts formally announced their five-year extension with the veteran quarterback Tuesday. Financial figures weren't provided, but a CFL source said the deal has a $5,555,250 base salary, which could go as high as $5,805,250 with bonuses.

And that will easily make Kelly the CFL's highest-paid player, a distinction he garnered in 2023 when he signed a three-year, $1.865-million extension with Toronto. B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke is regarded as the league's top earner this season with a reported salary exceeding $684,000.

Kelly said he didn't know what to expect when he first arrived in the CFL in 2022. And in 2025, he began questioning his future when he missed the entire season recovering from a leg injury sustained in the '24 East Division final.

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Updated: Yesterday at 8:29 PM CDT

Football

B.C. Lions set to once again face Saskatchewan Roughriders in West semifinal

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

B.C. Lions set to once again face Saskatchewan Roughriders in West semifinal

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Monday, Oct. 26, 2026

SURREY - The B.C. Lions are well aware of what they're up against this week.

When they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL's West Division semifinal on Saturday, it will be the fourth time this season the two teams have faced off.

It will also be the third year in a row these squads meet in the playoffs.

“We know what they'll do," said Lions defensive lineman Mathieu Betts. "It's just on us to execute better. And I think we have the players to be able to match well.”

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Monday, Oct. 26, 2026

Football

Source: Veteran quarterback Kelly agrees to extension with Toronto Argonauts

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Source: Veteran quarterback Kelly agrees to extension with Toronto Argonauts

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Monday, Oct. 26, 2026

TORONTO - Chad Kelly is remaining with the Toronto Argonauts.

According to a CFL source, Kelly and the Argos have agreed to a five-year contract extension. The CFL club has scheduled a news conference to make a "major announcement" Tuesday.

Kelly, 32, is in the final season of the three-year, $1.865-million extension he signed with Toronto during the 2023 campaign that made him the league's highest-paid player at the time. The extension comes after talks between Kelly and the Argos reportedly were put on hold last month until season's end.

Kelly was slated to become a free agent in the off-season. Financial details weren't immediately known but Kelly is expected to surpass B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke (reportedly over $680,000) as the league's top paid player.

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Monday, Oct. 26, 2026

Football

Bucky Irving runs for 2 TDs and Bucs force 4 turnovers in 43-13 rout of Panthers

Steve Reed, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Bucky Irving runs for 2 TDs and Bucs force 4 turnovers in 43-13 rout of Panthers

Steve Reed, The Associated Press 3 minute read Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bucky Irving ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns, and Tampa Bay forced four turnovers as the Buccaneers hammered the Carolina Panthers 43-13 on Sunday in Baker Mayfield’s return.

Mayfield, who missed the previous three games with a dislocated right thumb, attempted just 11 passes and threw for 64 yards while wearing a protective glove on his right hand. That was more than enough for him to improve to 7-1 against the Panthers, including 6-1 since joining the Bucs (2-5).

Mayfield didn’t need to do much because Tampa Bay’s run game, defense and special teams dominated. The Bucs had 258 yards on the ground, with Sean Tucker adding a 46-yard touchdown run to put Tampa Bay up by 37.

Carolina's Bryce Young turned the ball over three times. Al-Quadin Muhammad had a strip-sack of Young that Calijah Kancey returned 32 yards for a touchdown.

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Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

Football

Burrow throws 4 TD passes as Bengals storm past Jackson-less Ravens in 2nd half of 35-13 win

Noah Trister, The Associated Press 3 minute read Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

BALTIMORE (AP) — Joe Burrow threw four touchdown passes in the second half, and the Cincinnati Bengals rebounded from a desultory first two quarters to beat Baltimore 35-13 on Sunday, handing the Ravens a second straight divisional loss with Lamar Jackson sidelined.

Baltimore (4-3) dominated the first half but led only 13-0 after settling for a couple of short field goals. Then the Ravens blew a double-digit second-half lead for the second straight week and 10th time since the start of the 2022 season.

The Bengals (4-2) were shut out in their second meeting with Baltimore last season, and were scoreless through two quarters this time before going 66 yards on the first drive after halftime, capped by Burrow's 6-yard TD pass to Mike Gesicki.

Baltimore, which held the ball for 22:20 in the first half, went three-and-out on its first possession of the second. Burrow's 13-yard scoring pass to Tee Higgins put Cincinnati ahead to stay.

Football

‘Happy over the fact it’s over’: Number of emotions as Redblacks close trying season

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

‘Happy over the fact it’s over’: Number of emotions as Redblacks close trying season

Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

OTTAWA - In a season that fell so far from expectations, relief was among a number of emotions for the Ottawa Redblacks with the season now over.

The Redblacks went a franchise worst 1-17 as defensive co-ordinator Will Fields was fired on Aug. 1, vice-president of football operations Shawn Burke was let go on Aug. 17 and president Adrian Scarra no longer had his post by Aug. 23.

On the field, they had three different starting quarterbacks, with rookie Bryson Barnes picking up the lone win in a start against Toronto in Week 17. They finished the season with 18 players on the six-game injured list and eight on the one-game IL.

“You have a lot of emotions coming out of a season like this,” admitted receiver Kalil Pimpleton, who broke a CFL record with 1,834 kickoff return yards in a single season. “You come out mad, you come out sad, you come out happy over the fact it’s over.”

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Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

Football

Roughriders top Elks 16-9 to book West semifinal showdown with Lions

Jeff DeDekker, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Roughriders top Elks 16-9 to book West semifinal showdown with Lions

Jeff DeDekker, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

REGINA - The Saskatchewan Roughriders punched their ticket to the West Division semifinal with a 16-9 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Saturday.

The victory moved Saskatchewan (10-8) into third place in the West Division, meaning the fourth-place Winnipeg Blue Bombers will cross over and face the Toronto Argonauts in the East semifinal on Oct. 31.

The defending Grey Cup champion Riders will visit the B.C. Lions on Oct. 31.

The first-place Elks (13-5) will host the Saskatchewan-B.C. winner in the West final on Nov. 7 in Edmonton.

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Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026

October 28, 2026

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