TORONTO \u2014 Damonte Coxie will never complain about all of the extra attention he\u2019s attracting this season from CFL defences.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what comes with being one of the CFL\u2019s top receivers, something Coxie had hoped to achieve since joining the Toronto Argonauts in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cPressure is not really a thing because this is what you ask for and once you ask for it, it becomes you,\u201d he said. \u201cThe crown is heavy but you wear it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m my own biggest critic, I\u2019m real, real tough on myself, harder than anybody can coach me. But at the same time I also give myself grace because you can\u2019t be so hard on yourself and not give yourself grace.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coxie hasn\u2019t given opposing defences much grace as Toronto\u2019s No. 1 receiver. The six-foot-three, 200-pound native of Baton Rouge, La., is third in the CFL receiving with 65 catches for 1,083 yards — both career highs — and six touchdowns.<\/p>\n
Coxie\u2019s next touchdown grab will also establish a new career mark.<\/p>\n
Heady stuff considering after his collegiate career at Memphis, Coxie was bypassed in the 2021 NFL draft. He had a tryout with the Green Bay Packers but never signed with the club.<\/p>\n
Coxie didn\u2019t resume playing football again until 2022 when he signed with Toronto. And even then, he began his CFL career on the practice roster before being promoted to the active roster in time for the Argos\u2019 23-13 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks on July 31.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou spend a lot of time praying and you ask for things,\u201d Coxie said. \u201cHe gives you opportunities to make those things come true but you\u2019ve got to prepare for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI figured as long as I stay head down, working and preparing, everything is going to come to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old American established himself as a big-play receiver with Toronto in 2023 when he had 39 catches for 787 yards (20.2-yard average). Coxie registered a career-best 67-yard reception that season, one of seven 30-plus catches he had over 14 regular-season appearances.<\/p>\n
This year, though, in 13 regular-season contests, Coxie not only has more 30-yard receptions (eight) but the six TD grabs are one more than he had in 2023.<\/p>\n
Coxie and Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly began developing a rapport that season. Kelly captured the CFL\u2019s outstanding player award after passing for 4,123 yards and 23 TDs while compiling a 15-1 record as the Argos starter.<\/p>\n
And after Kelly missed all of 2025 recovering from a leg injury, the two have quickly picked up this year where they left off. Kelly currently leads the CFL in passing (career-best 4,404 yards) and TDs (29).<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s big, fast and physical, there\u2019s no (other) way to describe a guy like that,\u201d Kelly said of Coxie. \u201cI\u2019ve played with a lot of great receivers and it\u2019s very hard to defend a guy like that.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd he brings it every day. His energy is contagious.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2024, Kelly and Coxie were members of the Argos team that defeated Winnipeg 41-24 in the Grey Cup. Nick Arbuckle was Toronto\u2019s starter, though, as Kelly suffered his leg injury in the East final. Coxie had three catches for 29 yards in the title game.<\/p>\n
Coxie said there are no shortcuts to developing the chemistry that exists between himself and Kelly.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust time,\u201d he said. \u201cOver time it becomes (like) clockwork.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knows what I\u2019m going to do, and I know what he\u2019s going to do, so it\u2019s easy for us to read each other. Just all of the little things to where on the field it all meshes together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Toronto head coach Mike Miller says while Coxie is very deserving of the individual attention he\u2019s receiving this season, there\u2019s much more to the veteran receiver than statistics.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knows he still wants to get better and better each day,\u201d Miller said. \u201cWe\u2019re all here to win a Grey Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re process-driven and he\u2019s certainly a poster child for that. He\u2019s a great competitor and is very deserving of all the accolades he gets but if you ask him, the one accolade he\u2019s working hard for is (another) Grey Cup and everything else that comes with that is gravy.\u201d<\/p>\n
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2026.<\/p>\n
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press<\/p>\n
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