{"id":746134,"date":"2026-06-19T00:34:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T00:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/746134\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T00:34:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T00:34:09","slug":"4-big-questions-highlight-week-3-of-the-cfl-from-maximizing-cody-fajardo-to-bcs-developing-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/746134\/","title":{"rendered":"4 big questions highlight Week 3 of the CFL, from maximizing Cody Fajardo to BC’s developing issue"},"content":{"rendered":"

Week 3 brings the first full slate of CFL football thanks to the world cup, and it provides us a multitude of fascinating questions.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Nov
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNov 8, 2025; Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada; BC Lions wide receiver Keon Hatcher (4) runs off the field after his touchdown with teammates during the second half of the CFL Western Conference Final between the BC Lions and the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium.
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBruce Fedyck-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

We are six games into the CFL season, and there are still very few things we can be certain about<\/a>. One of those is Montreal Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander is one win away from setting a league record for consecutive regular-season wins to start a career.<\/p>\n

Heading into Week 3, only the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have a bye week, meaning we have four games this weekend, including a tripleheader on Saturday. That brings a lot of questions going into the weekend. Let\u2019s break it down.<\/p>\n

BC\u2019s major injury issues<\/p>\n

The BC Lions hung in there with the defending Grey Cup Champion Saskatchewan Roughriders last Saturday, but a poorly surrendered Rouge ended up costing them a chance at tying the game in a 31-27 loss. In that loss, the Lions lost three wide receivers in Stanley Berryhill III, Seven McGee, and Jevon Cottoy. That raises a real concern about what they will do moving forward.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t help that star wide receiver Keon Hatcher is dealing with a thigh injury, but he is expected to play on Friday night. They will be relying on some serious youth in the wide receiver room, with Jermaine Jackson, Nick Cenacle, and Silas Bolden stepping in. We know that Hatcher and Justin McInnis are both superstars, but the Tiger-Cats, even sans cornerback Jamal Peters, will have an easier job stopping them both with a lack of depth. Luckily for the Lions, they have last year\u2019s Most Outstanding Player in Nathan Rourke and star running back James Butler. They will need to weather the storm, and with Bo Levi Mitchell capable of putting up a lot of points, it could prove crucial toward getting home-field advantage in the Western Division.<\/p>\n

Edmonton\u2019s free agency haul<\/p>\n

The Edmonton Elks knew they needed to build on their big finish at the end of 2025 with quarterback Cody Fajardo. Despite starting 1-7, the Elks finished 7-11 and even flirted with a playoff spot. Under first-year head coach Mark Killam, the second half finally looked like a team that the Elks had hoped for.<\/p>\n

The biggest thing with the Elks was their massive free agency haul. They revamped their offensive line with Brendan Bordner, Jordan Murray, and Coulter Woodmansey, along with star defensive lineman Malik Carney from the Roughriders, and wide receiver Brendal O\u2019Leary-Orange. They paid major dividends in an Ottawa rainstorm, but bad weather paired with it being the season opener didn\u2019t tell us much. The Alouettes will be a major litmus test for the Elks, and give us more information on where they slot in a very deep West.<\/p>\n

Saskatchewan\u2019s potential dominance<\/p>\n

We didn\u2019t just see a good Roughriders team on Saturday against the Lions, we saw dominance. Quarterback Trevor Harris<\/a> looked like a version 10 years younger, dominating the Lions with a completion percentage of 83.3%, 417 yards, and three touchdowns, all of which to Samuel Emilus. The Lions tried to blitz him with cover-0 looks, and Harris torched them.<\/p>\n

Bad defensive scheme by BC on this game winning TD from Sask yesterday. Cover 0 in the back end by the defensive backs puts them on an island, but when you don\u2019t blitz 7 defenders the QB isn\u2019t hot. We\u2019re picked up in protection. He can take a hitch and see the throw pic.twitter.com\/jhwtL6z5xz<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Chris Streveler (@chris_streveler) June 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

How are you supposed to stop the Roughriders? They have a trio of great wide receivers in Emilus, Kian Schaffer-Baker, and KeeSean Johnson, along with running back A.J. Ouellette. You can\u2019t blitz them consistently, otherwise Harris will torch you, but you can\u2019t let him sit in the pocket and dissect your defense. You have to get home with four, and that\u2019s difficult to do. It\u2019s the only way right now, and that\u2019s a problem for the rest of the CFL.<\/p>\n

Greg Bell\u2019s Ottawa debut<\/p>\n

Ryan Dinwiddie\u2019s Ottawa Redblacks debut didn\u2019t go as well as he had hoped, but there were some positives. They had a chance to tie the game with less than three minutes left, but quarterback Jake Maier made poor throws and decisions leading to the loss. It\u2019s evident that the Redblacks still have a ways to go, but there was enough there to give fans some hope, especially since high-priced free agent signing, running back Greg Bell, missed the game due to injury.<\/p>\n

With him likely playing on Saturday afternoon, it adds another dynamic to the Redblacks\u2019 offense. They need to have him in the backfield to attack defenses laterally in the passing game and on the ground. With him healthy, it could point the arrow of the Redblacks\u2019 season straight up.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Nov\t\t<\/p>\n

NFL<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTrevor Harris is proving he\u2019s ageless, and the Chad Kelly vs. Davis Alexander duel highlight Week 2 CFL roundup\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

The second week of the CFL had just three games due to the World Cup, and they all delivered a level of excitement we expect.<\/p>\n