Vernon Adams Jr., the CFL’s leader in passing touchdowns, has been shuffled to Calgary’s reserve roster just a day before kickoff.

This Week’s CFL Schedule

Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Calgary Stampeders

Hamilton got run out of the building 44-20 the last time these two met in Week 9, and the Ticats haven’t found much rhythm since, dropping four of five. Calgary’s own form isn’t much prettier — losers of two straight — but the roster news out of the Stampeders’ camp is the real story here, with Ben Wooldridge activated off reserve the same day Adams Jr. was shipped there. Dave Dickenson is one win away from 100 career victories, and history says McMahon Stadium is the place to get it: Calgary is 5-1 there against Hamilton since 2017.

Players to Watch:

Tre Ford (Hamilton, QB) — Torched Calgary’s secondary for a career-high 356 yards last time out and owns a 2-2 career mark against the Stamps.
Vernon Adams Jr. (Calgary, QB) — Leads the CFL with 22 passing touchdowns, but his move to reserve roster status makes his availability a real question mark.
Keric Wheatfall (Hamilton, WR) — Has 12 catches for 232 yards and a score over his last two games and needs to keep feeding Ford downfield shots.

Injury Watch:

Vernon Adams Jr. (Calgary, QB) — Head, questionable, and now on the reserve roster after Ben Wooldridge was activated in his place.
Kiondre Smith (Hamilton, WR) — Knee, out.
Tyson Middlemost (Hamilton, WR) — Knee, out.
Reggie Begelton (Calgary, WR) — Knee, out.

Pick: Calgary Stampeders 33-27. Even with the QB uncertainty, Calgary’s offense has been too much all season (378 points scored) and Reggie Stubblefield’s league-leading 59 tackles anchor a defense that should slow down a banged-up Hamilton receiving corps. Calgary is 4-5-1 against the spread but rides eight overs in ten games — bet the total here too.

Toronto Argonauts at Saskatchewan Roughriders

WhenSaturday, August 29 at 7:00 PM ET
WhereMosaic Stadium, Regina
TVTSN
StreamWatch live on CFL+
LineSaskatchewan Roughriders -4 | O/U 62

Toronto just gutted out a 39-20 win over Hamilton and heads west with some real swagger, while Saskatchewan is coming off back-to-back losses, including a 16-30 clunker against BC. The Argos have owned this series lately, winning the last three meetings, and Chad Kelly is a perfect 4-0 in his career against the Riders. Back in Week 4, these two combined for 730 passing yards in a 40-34 Toronto shootout win, and this one has the look of another track meet.

Players to Watch:

Chad Kelly (Toronto, QB) — 4-0 lifetime versus Saskatchewan, and Toronto needs him locked in against a defense that allows the fewest big plays in the league.
Trevor Harris (Saskatchewan, QB) — Has thrown a touchdown pass in every game this season and is 6-6 for his career against Toronto.
Damonte Coxie (Toronto, WR) — Part of a receiving corps so deep that Toronto is the only team in the CFL with five players over 500 yards this season.

Injury Watch:

Nick Arbuckle (Toronto, QB) — Ribs, questionable.
Cameron Judge (Toronto, LB) — Hip, out.
Paris Shand (Toronto, DL) — Oblique, out.
Johnny Johnson (Saskatchewan, WR) — Head, out.
Samuel Emilus (Saskatchewan, WR) — Leg, out.

Pick: Toronto Argonauts 30-27. Saskatchewan’s defense is legit — fewest touchdown drives allowed, lowest second-down conversion rate against — but the Riders are down two receivers and haven’t shown they can slow Kelly, who’s had this team’s number every time out. Toronto is 5-5 against the spread and the under has hit in six of ten games, but this rivalry keeps producing points, so lean the over.

CFL Standings

TeamWLPFPA

Montreal Alouettes92395307
Edmonton Elks83323279
Saskatchewan Roughriders64309271
Winnipeg Blue Bombers65300314
Toronto Argonauts55304311
BC Lions55274267
Calgary Stampeders46378327
Hamilton Tiger-Cats47257319
Ottawa Redblacks010223368

Quick Hits

Calgary activated kicker René Paredes off the six-game injured list while simultaneously moving Vernon Adams Jr. to reserve — a QB swap worth watching closely before kickoff at McMahon.
Saskatchewan added D’Sean Mimbs off the reserve roster and pulled in three practice-roster bodies (Seyi Oladipo Jr., Liam Hoskins, James Burgess Jr.) to patch holes left by Johnny Johnson and Samuel Emilus being ruled out.
With Ford lighting it up through the air, Hamilton’s Keric Wheatfall is a sneaky start against a Calgary secondary that’s given up chunk plays all year.
Toronto extended punter John Haggerty and DL Paris Shand on single-game injury while adding Jalen Bell and Jalen Rayam off the practice roster to keep the front seven fresh for Regina’s turf.

Standings | Full Schedule | League Leaders

Who wins this week? Drop your picks in the comments.