Around the CFL: Canadian receivers step up in Week 1

While several prominent CFL receivers suffered injuries during or before the first week of games, some other intriguing pass-catchers opened eyes with strong performances.

Perhaps it's a sign of a little changing of the guard for the CFL receiving landscape, where some rising Canadians flashed big-play ability in Week 1.

Right at the top of the list is third-year receiver Tyson Philpot of the Montreal Alouettes.

The 23-year-old native of Delta, B.C., followed up his big Grey Cup performance, where he scored the winning touchdown, with a league-leading 141-yard receiving output in Game 1. It was highlighted by a 76-yard hookup with Cody Fajardo on a flea flicker in the Als' impressive road win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Top 2023 Alouettes receiver Austin Mack signed with the Atlanta Falcons in the off-season, opening the door for Philpot to become a No. 1 option. So far, so good for the University of Calgary product.

“I’m trying to show the media and other people a Canadian can be the No. 1 receiver, too, no matter what the ratio says,” Philpot told the Montreal Gazette's Herb Zurkowsky. “It’s something that I stand for. Something that I tell others. I’m proud to be a Canadian. Proud to have a lasting impact on guys that are watching, young Canadians and guys that have been in the league. I definitely think it’s something more special for me.”

Clark Barnes of the Calgary Stampeders is another young Canadian receiver off to a good start.

The 23-year-old native of Brampton, Ont., had six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown in Calgary's win over the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Afterward, the University of Guelph product earned praise from coach Dave Dickenson.

“I thought the guy that stepped up the best was Clark Barnes,” Dickenson said, per Todd Saelhof of Calgary Postmedia. “I thought he could’ve had even a bigger game on the outside. To me, he was the guy who made the biggest catches."

Combine Barnes and Philpot's efforts with a 103-yard outing for B.C. Lions receiver Justin McInnis (Pierrefonds, Que.) in a season-opening loss to the Toronto Argonauts, and you're starting to see the potential for Canadians to have big years catching the ball.

Just one receiver, Brad Sinopoli, has won the league's top Canadian award since 2011, doing it twice with the Ottawa Redblacks.

With Kenny Lawler of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Tyler Snead of the Montreal Alouettes and Kyran Moore of the Edmonton Elks already out with injuries, the spotlight may shine a little bit brighter on Canadian receivers.

Pressure in the 'Peg

After the Blue Bombers' bad outing at home against the Als in a Grey Cup rematch, some are wondering whether the league's best franchise the past five years might finally be hitting a downswing.

One game is far too early to make a final judgment, of course. But if things don't get better Thursday in Ottawa against a Redblacks team led by former Blue Bombers backup quarterback Dru Brown, the heat increases significantly.

While Brown showed promise in Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers couldn't afford to keep him and marquee pivot Zach Collaros. Now, Brown gets his first shot as Ottawa's main man (the Redblacks were idle last week) against his old team.

“That’s my guy,” Blue Bombers receiver Dalton Schoen told the Winnipeg Sun's Paul Friesen. “Everyone who was here with him last year knows he deserves to be a starting quarterback in this league. I’m excited to see how he does. Obviously, hope this week he doesn’t do well. And then I’ll be rooting for him every other week of the season that they’re not playing us.”

The Blue Bombers won't have Lawler (arm) or star running back Brady Oliveira (knee) as they attempt to avoid their first two-game losing streak since 2021. They haven't started 0-2 since 2016.

The Redblacks desperately need Brown to be the answer at quarterback. They've been mostly a disaster at the position for the past five years.

50K for 50 Cent

The Lions, resurgent at the box office under fourth-year owner Amar Doman, are expecting more than 50,000 fans for a home opener against the Stampeders on Saturday featuring a pre-game performance by 50 Cent.

It will mark the first crowd of 50,000-plus for the Lions since 2011.

With the Lions hosting the Grey Cup this year along with a Touchdown Pacific neutral-site game in Victoria, it's a huge year for the franchise.

They showed some explosiveness in an exciting 35-27 road loss to the Argonauts in the opener, but ultimately couldn't hold off a powerful Toronto defensive line.

Star quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. took a beating, being sacked six times.

That must change if the Lions are to live up to their billing as an expected league powerhouse.

Optimism reigns supreme

Apart from Winnipeg, the seven other teams playing in Week 1 all could find at least a few things to feel good about.

Ticats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell looked much better than last year, perhaps helped by a new head coach in Scott Milanovich, who has done great work with quarterbacks during his career. If Ticats receivers would have done a better job catching the football, Hamilton could have walked out of Calgary with a win.

Meanwhile, Elks quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson fell just short of victory in his first game with Edmonton as the Saskatchewan Roughriders rallied for victory. After a year in the USFL, the former Argos starter appears in fine form.

The other losing team, the Lions, let a 20-6 lead slip away in Toronto, but that game felt like a battle of two heavyweight squads. There's no shame in losing a close one in Toronto against an Argos team that appears strong on both lines.

The Argos also didn't miss a beat at quarterback, as Cameron Dukes delivered a huge outing as he began the task of filling in for suspended star Chad Kelly for at least nine games.

Game of the Week

The Sunday-nighter features the league's only two first-year coaches with their respective teams — Milanovich of the Ticats going against Corey Mace of the Roughriders in Saskatchewan.

Milanovich comes from an offensive background, while Mace was defensive co-ordinator for the Argos the last two years.

It starts a home-and-home series as the same two teams lock horns in Regina on June 23 for Saskatchewan's home opener.

Two veteran quarterbacks with plenty to prove, Hamilton's Mitchell and Saskatchewan's Trevor Harris, provide a fun battle at the game's most important position. Harris connected with Shawn Bane Jr. for three touchdowns last week, a good start for first-time offensive co-ordinator Marc Mueller.

The Roughriders did a good job stopping the run against Edmonton last week, which will be key versus a Hamilton team featuring one of the league's top running backs in James Butler.

Here is the Week 2 schedule:

Thursday: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-1) at Ottawa Redblacks (0-0), 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Friday: Montreal Alouettes (1-0) at Edmonton Elks (0-1), 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
Saturday: Calgary Stampeders (1-0) at B.C. Lions (0-1), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Sunday: Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-0) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Bye: Toronto Argonauts (1-0)