The Canadian quarterback signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday, the team announced.

Elgersma, 24, spent last season in the United Football League with the Birmingham Stallions. However, due to issues with a work visa, he didn’t appear in any games.

Before joining the Stallions, Elgersma tried his hand in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers.

The six-foot-five, 227-pound Elgersma spent training camp with the Packers and appeared in three pre-season games before he was waived by the team ahead of the regular season.

Elgersma signed with Green Bay as an undrafted free agent after attending the NFL team’s mini-camp. He became just the fourth Canadian university quarterback to sign south of the border and the first since ’87.

The London, Ont., native won the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in Canadian university football with the Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks in 2024.

In his senior season at Laurier, Elgersma passed for 4,011 yards, 34 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He added 223 yards and six touchdowns rushing and led the Golden Hawks to a Vanier Cup appearance.

The Blue Bombers drafted the rights to Elgersma with the 18th overall selection in the 2025 CFL Draft.

Ward, 33, played seven seasons with Ottawa (2018-19, 2021-25), joining the CFL club as a free agent after playing collegiately at the University of Ottawa.

He made 300-of-347 field goals (86.5 per cent) and 140-of-151 convert attempts (92.7 per cent) in 117 regular-season games with the Redblacks.

He was the CFL’s top rookie and special-teams player in 2018, and over 2018-19 made 69 straight field goals, a CFL record and the longest such streak in pro football.

Last season, Ward made 35-of-46 field goals (career-low 76.1 per cent) and 33-of-35 converts.

“As an organization, we would like to thank Lewis for everything he brought to our football club both on and off the field,” said Shawn Burke, Ottawa’s vice-president of football operations. “He accomplished so many great achievements during his time here. The accolades and records speak for themselves. 

“He will be forever known as a Redblack great.”

The league said Thursday it was made aware of multiple allegations in late January. It immediately initiated a third-party investigation, which included interviews with Ajou, multiple witnesses and complainants.

Ajou spent last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, registering 22 catches for 212 yards in eight regular-season games. He was with the CFL club when it defeated the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 to capture the Grey Cup, registering two catches for 13 yards.

Ajou rejoined the Riders after being released by the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 26.

The investigation revealed that on Nov. 18, 2025 — the same day as the team’s Grey Cup parade — Ajou engaged in aggressive and unwelcome physical contact with multiple women at a restaurant in Regina, conduct that breaches the CFL’s gender-based violence and harassment policy, the league said.

On Thursday, the Riders said Ajou is no longer with the club.

“The Saskatchewan Roughriders do not tolerate gender-based violence or harassment, and Ajou Ajou’s actions go directly against the values we hold as an organization,” Jeremy O’Day, Saskatchewan’s vice-president of football operations/GM, said in a statement. “We hold our players to a high standard, one that focuses on integrity and treating people with respect.

“He failed to meet that standard and is no longer a Roughrider.”

The CFL added that there are no criminal charges currently pending against Ajou.

The six-foot-three, 218-pound Ajou, 24, of Brooks, Alta., becomes the second player suspended by the league for violating the policy.

In 2024, Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly was suspended for the entire pre-season and at least half of the club’s regular-season contests. The move came after a lawsuit and independent investigation into harassment allegations involving the league’s 2023 outstanding player.

Kelly was reinstated in August 2024 by the league on a last-chance agreement after undergoing mandatory counselling and meeting with then commissioner Randy Ambrosie.

The CFL said Ajou’s reinstatement process will consist of three parts. He’ll undergo at least 15 mandatory counselling sessions conducted by a gender-based violence expert, as well as a psychological assessment by another independent expert.

The final requirement will be to meet with league commissioner Stewart Johnston. Upon satisfactory completion of all three steps, Ajou will be eligible for reinstatement, although the league also said it reserves the right to modify the discipline.

“Protecting the safety and well-being of our communities is non‑negotiable,” said Johnston. “Our players are expected to lead with integrity and serve as role models.

“When improper conduct occurs, our policy is clear, and we will enforce it without exception. It is my hope that Mr. Ajou learns from this experience, and that other players take this unfortunate situation as a reminder of the standards we uphold.”

That’s the belief owner Terry Pegula and general manager Brandon Beane had in choosing to hire from within by promoting the offensive coordinator in January.

No pressure, right?

The road ahead, nonetheless, is daunting not just for the 36-year-old Brady, who has no previous head coaching experience, but also for Beane to validate Pegula’s trust in retaining and adding the title of president of football operations.

Deserving as Beane is for transforming the Bills into near perennial contenders since arriving in May 2017, the 49-year-old also shares the blame for a team Pegula concluded hit the “proverbial playoff wall.” In losing to Denver in the AFC divisional round, Buffalo became the NFL’s first team to win a playoff round in six consecutive years without a Super Bowl appearance.

The challenge for Beane is retooling the Bills on the fly to fit the aggressive approach Brady took on offence to a defence that has too often wilted in the post-season. And with little room to maneuver under the salary cap, the emphasis is on adding talent in the draft.

Buffalo opens with the 26th pick, with Beane already spending draft capital by dealing his second-round selection to Chicago to acquire receiver DJ Moore.

Necessary as the acquisition was in adding an established receiver, the trade opened old questions as to whether Beane did enough to surround Allen with talent in the wake of dealing Stefon Diggs two years ago.

Buffalo’s other key off-season addition was landing veteran edge rusher Bradley Chubb.

Beane’s draft record, meantime, has been spotty, while also an indication of how difficult it is to identify talent when selecting no higher than 23rd in each of the past six years.

With Moore on board, and much of Buffalo’s offence returning, expect Beane to address a defensive position with the unit transitioning to a 3-4 style under new coordinator Jim Leonhard.

Need

Linebacker, edge rusher, cornerback, offensive line depth.

Though LB Terrel Bernard returns after an injury-limited season, the Bills are thin at the position after choosing not to re-sign Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson, who both remain free agents. Edge/LB Michael Hoecht’s timetable to return from a torn Achilles tendon is also in question.

Don’t need

Safety, running back and to a lesser extent receiver. 

Cole Bishop adeptly took over a starting safety spot in his second season, while fellow starter Taylor Rapp was released. Buffalo addressed Rapp’s departure by signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone in free agency, and re-signing Damar Hamlin.

Pick’em

Difficult to project who will be available at No. 26, though the Bills could potentially target edge rushers Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) and Zion Young (Missouri), linebacker CJ Allen (Georgia) or receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana). Cooper’s addition could lead to Buffalo consider trading Keon Coleman or Josh Palmer.

Allen turning 30

Allen is entering his ninth season. The quarterback turns 30 in May, and recently celebrated the birth of his first child, a girl, with wife/actor Hailee Steinfeld. He reported for the start of voluntary workouts last week, after having surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot in January.

More from Sportsnet

Giants having productive talks with Dexter Lawrence since trade request, GM says

Reports: NFL moving forward in hiring of replacement refs

Several replacement officials have completed hiring steps including background checks and will soon progress to undergoing physical exams, per a memo sent to teams on Wednesday that was obtained by The Associated Press. Training sessions with NFL officiating supervisors would then begin as early as next month.

The league has undertaken these steps because negotiations with the referees’ union have been unsuccessful, two people with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press last month. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the conversations are private.

The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association is set to expire on May 31.

NFL senior vice president of officiating Perry Fewell informed head coaches and general managers in the memo that teams will receive further information in the coming weeks about when replacement refs would be able to work offseason workout programs and minicamps, which begin in June.

The league and the union have been negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement since the summer of 2024.

“The league remains committed to reaching a fair and reasonable agreement with the NFLRA but will be prepared in the event the NFLRA permits the current agreement to expire,” Fewell said in the memo.

The NFL has increased its offer to a 6.45 per cent annual growth rate in compensation over a six-year labour deal, but the NFLRA wants 10 per cent plus $2.5 million for marketing fees, the two AP sources said last month.

NFLRA executive director Scott Green told the AP “those numbers are not accurate.” He said negotiations with the league are similar to 2012 when a stalemate resulted in a 110-day lockout and replacement referees were used.

The CFL club announced in its 2025 annual report that it posted an operating profit of $12.1 million, fuelled in part by a sold-out season and hosting the Grey Cup.

“This is a testament to the continued support of our season ticket members, corporate partners, and fans,” president and CEO Wade Miller said in a statement. “They are the reason this club remains strong, on and off the field.”

The club reported total operating revenue of $82.8 million in 2025, a significant jump of $28.1 million from the previous year. Expenses also rose — up $23 million to $70.7 million — largely due to costs associated with hosting the 112th Grey Cup and its accompanying festival.

The Blue Bombers will allocate $11.9 million to its capital fund to support long-term stadium upkeep — along with $1 million to its operating reserve. Those allocations totalled $12.9 million, matching the club’s overall profit for the year.

The strong financial performance also allowed for $8.4 million in capital improvements at Princess Auto Stadium. Upgrades included a new players’ lounge, HVAC remediation, additional contactless security-screening devices, and enhanced concessions equipment aimed at improving service speed and capacity.

Winnipeg has already installed two new high-resolution video boards at the stadium, part of a continued push to elevate the fan experience.

“The image quality is significantly better, and they integrate seamlessly with the ribbon boards we added last season,” Miller said. “We are committed to continuing to invest in our stadium and improving the fan experience every year.”

Further enhancements are planned, including a redesigned Rum Hut, replacement of loge seating, a new food and beverage point-of-sale system, and the addition of a BBQ stand featuring smash burgers and other offerings.

“The Winnipeg Football Club has a strong history of financial stability,” Miller said. “We are the financial stewards of Princess Auto Stadium, committed to ongoing investment to ensure it remains the best stadium in the CFL.”

At his pre-draft news conference, Schoen said he, coach John Harbaugh and senior VP of football operations and strategy Dawn Aponte have been in communication about the situation. Harbaugh at the start of offseason workouts called the prospects high of Lawrence remaining with the team.

“We’d like for Dexter to be here, and at some point we’ll come to a resolution here, whatever that may be,” Schoen said. “We’ll see. But conversations have been really good, they’ve been productive and we’ll see what happens here down the road.”

Schoen would not say whether the first round on April 23 represented a deadline because of the chance to recoup a pick to receive immediate help if Lawrence gets traded.

“He’s under contract for two more years,” Schoen said. “We’re not going to put any deadlines on anything.”

Citing sources, NFL Network several hours later reported the sides “reached an impasse,” with the draft being an inflection point.

Lawrence, 28, is coming off a season in which he had a career-low 31 tackles and a half-sack for a defense that ranked 30th out of 32 teams in the NFL. He’s currently set to make $19.5 million this year and $20 million in 2027.

As for whether New York is entertaining offers for Lawrence, Schoen said he’s “always going to pick up the phone.”

“If teams call, you take into account it’s a case-by-case basis and what the compensation may be,” Schoen said. “That’s my job to take into consideration what that looks like, what the compensation looks like, who the player is, how that affects the roster and then try to make the best decision off of that.”

Schoen said Lawrence’s trade request has not affected preparations for the draft. The Giants have the fifth pick and a bevvy of options on what to do with it, potentially including Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs.

The uncertainty surrounding Lawrence may have an impact on free agency. The team hosted experienced defensive lineman D.J. Reader, who started all 17 games for Detroit last season on a visit Monday.

“There’s still players that are on the street that were free agents this year that are available,” Schoen said, adding guard is also a position that could still be addressed.

McGinnis, who had been in declining health, died at Ascension St. Thomas Midtown Hospital with his family at his side, according to the Tennessee Titans. He had been the Titans’ colour commentator on game broadcasts since 2017 and was a constant presence on radio shows and team podcasts.

“He was family,” controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk. “Coach Mac gave so much of himself to this organization over the years, and his passion, loyalty and love for the Titans never wavered. He cared deeply about the people around him, and that kindness and authenticity left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.”

McGinnis went 17-40 for the Cardinals from 2000 to 2003, earning the job after nearly five seasons as defensive coordinator. He also helped the Cardinals’ push for their current stadium before being fired following a 4-12 record in 2003. That was despite a breakout season from receiver Anquan Boldin as the AP’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Arizona owner Michael Bidwill said in a statement the Cardinals were saddened to hear of McGinnis’ death.

“As Dave often said, he was a ‘ball coach’ through and through, and no one ever filled that role with more passion, enthusiasm and charisma,” Bidwill said. “Coach Mac truly loved the game and everything — and everyone — associated with it, especially his players. He was one of a kind and will be greatly missed.”

A respected defensive mind, McGinnis began his NFL career with the Chicago Bears in 1986 as linebackers coach, a season after the franchise won the Super Bowl. He spent 10 years in Chicago working under head coaches Mike Ditka and Dave Wannstedt.

McGinnis briefly looked like he would become the Bears’ head coach in 1999 when the team announced his hiring after an interview. However, McGinnis said he had never agreed to a contract, the Bears apologized and the coach pulled his name from consideration.

After he left the Cardinals in 2003, McGinnis was hired as the linebackers coach for the Tennessee Titans under coach Jeff Fisher. He stayed in that role — eventually being promoted to assistant head coach — until 2011.

McGinnis followed Fisher to the St. Louis Rams in 2012, where he worked until 2016 as assistant head coach before turning to being a broadcaster with the Titans.

“His passion for the Titans and love for the game came through in every interaction and every broadcast, and he had a unique way of making everyone around him better,” said Burke Nihill, the Titans president and chief executive officer.

Before his NFL career, McGinnis was an assistant for 13 years at the college level, working at TCU, Missouri, Indiana State and Kansas State.

The Snyder, Texas, native was a three-year starter at defensive back for TCU and graduated in 1973.

Last September, CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston unveiled the league’s two-part plan to improve its game and make it more entertaining for fans. The most controversial changes were for 2027 when the field would be shortened by 10 yards (to a length of 100 yards), endzones by five yards (to 15 yards) and goalposts would move to the back of the reconfigured end zones.

Johnston believes moving the goalposts will result in more touchdowns scored. Philpot, of Delta, B.C.,and entering his fifth season as a receiver with the Calgary Stampeders, initially balked at the changes but has since softened his stance.

“I wasn’t too happy in the beginning because I grew up with the Canadian game, I grew up a fan of it,” Philpot said recently. “I’m not too fond of change but I do agree there is a better place for the goalposts and I think you could open up the offence, for sure.

“There’ve been instances where we’ve hit the goalposts in the middle of the field for wide-open touchdowns and there’s nothing worse. It’s hard to tell if it will improve the game but at the end of the day you want it to be exciting and I think whatever we can do to go in that direction is good.”

Philpot, 25, is coming off his most productive CFL campaign. The six-foot, 190-pound receiver had 61 catches for a career-best 830 yards with three touchdowns.

More importantly, Calgary (11-7) finished third in the West Division to return to the CFL playoffs. However, the Stampeders’ season ended with a 33-30 semifinal loss to the B.C. Lions.

Calgary has reached the playoffs in three of Philpot’s four CFL seasons but has failed to earn a post-season victory. The franchise hasn’t won the Grey Cup since 2018.

With Calgary hosting the ’26 CFL championship, this season would be an ideal time for the Stampeders to reverse those fortunes.

“At the end of the day, wins and championships are what you’re remembered for,” Philpot said. “I go into every season expecting to be in that final game and it’s definitely enticing this year, for sure, with the Grey Cup being in Calgary.”

Despite last year’s milestone, Philpot feels he has plenty of room for improvement.

“I can get better in my route-running and ability to see the field,” he said. “The thing about Vernon (Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.) is he knows where he’s going pre-snap so if you can be in that right spot at the right time, that’s what he’s looking for.

“It’s a whole timing thing that just comes with comfortability. The way I feel now going into this season is super comfortable, I’ve made the plays so now it’s just go out and be consistent.”

Calgary boasted the CFL’s top rushing attack last season, Adams’s first with the club. Dedrick Mills ran for a league-best 1,409 yards and finished tied for tops in rushing TDs (11) as the Stampeders averaged a league-leading 126.7 yards on the ground per game.

Adams still threw for 4,247 yards with 21 TDs and 14 interceptions but Dominique Rhymes — Calgary’s leading receiver last year with 50 catches for 886 yards and six TDs — has retired and Canadian Damien Alford (CFL-best 20.4-yard average per catch last year) is with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints. However, veteran Reggie Begelton is expected back after missing most of 2025 with a knee injury.

Still, many pre-season prognosticators have low expectations of Calgary this season. Philpot is anxious to do his part to prove the doubters wrong.

“I think just with the extra motivation of us getting ranked low again and the Grey Cup being in Calgary, we’re going to be a forced to be reckoned with right out of the gate,” he said.