GDT Edm at Mtl, Sat Aug 8, 2:00PM

gobombersgo · August 04, 2026, 11:17:44 PM

gobombersgo · August 04, 2026, 11:17:56 PM

gobombersgo · August 04, 2026, 11:18:27 PM

Montreal Alouettes down four starting defenders against Edmonton Elks
by 3Down Staff August 7, 2026

The Montreal Alouettes have moved four starting defensive players to the one-game injured list ahead of Saturday's game against the Edmonton Elks. All four were non-participants in practice this week. The team issued its official depth chart on Friday morning.

Mustafa Johnson (knee) will be replaced at defensive tackle by Decarius Hawthorne, who made two starts to begin the season before being placed on the practice roster. The six-foot-two, 289-pound native of Birmingham, Ala. made three defensive tackles in those outings, helping Montreal win both games.

Johnson has had a strong start to the year, recording 17 defensive tackles and four sacks over eight regular-season games. The 27-year-old has made 122 defensive tackles, 21 sacks, one forced fumble, and one touchdown over five seasons with the Alouettes, earning an All-East Division selection in 2023.

Geoffrey Cantin-Arku (adductor) will not play, leaving Micah Awe to start at middle linebacker. The 32-year-old has notched 16 defensive tackles and two special teams tackles in a rotational role this season. He was recently issued a maximum fine by the CFL for a high hit on Vernon Adams Jr.

Cantin-Arku has made 38 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, and two sacks through eight regular-season games this year, his first as a full-time starter. The native of Lévis, Que. originally joined the Alouettes as a first-round pick in the 2024 CFL Draft out of the University of Memphis.

Najee Murray (head) will be replaced at strong-side linebacker by Gemon Green. The 26-year-old signed with Montreal in March and has since played five regular-season games in a depth role, making 10 defensive tackles and two special teams tackles. This will be his first CFL start.

Murray is one of the longest-tenured members of the Alouettes, having originally joined the team in 2018. The five-foot-nine, 187-pound native of Steubenville, Ohio has tallied 268 defensive tackles, six special teams tackles, four sacks, four forced fumbles, and three interceptions over 73 career regular-season games. He helped Montreal win the Grey Cup in 2023.

Wesley Sutton (calf) is out, leaving Faion Hicks to start at boundary halfback. Hicks made three previous starts at field-side cornerback this season, recording four defensive tackles and one forced fumble. The 27-year-old was originally a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.

Sutton has recorded 24 defensive tackles, one sack, and one interception over seven starts this season. Since joining the Alouettes in 2021, the three-time All-East Division selection has made 280 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, 10 sacks, seven forced fumbles, seven interceptions, and two touchdowns.

David Perales, who was 3DownNation's breakout player of the week in Week 6, has returned from injury to start at defensive end opposite Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund. Donovan Manuel has also been promoted from the reserve roster to fill a depth role at linebacker, while Ty Anderson has been promoted from the practice roster to fill a depth role at defensive tackle.

The Alouettes have also moved fullback Regis Cibasu to the practice roster and defensive lineman T.J. Guy (ribs) to the six-game injured list.

The Montreal Alouettes (7-1) host the Edmonton Elks (6-2) on Saturday, August 8, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m. EDT. The Alouettes beat Ottawa 34-13 in Week 9, while the Elks lost 28-26 to Saskatchewan.

The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CBS Sports Network internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on TSN 690 (English) or 99.5 Montreal (French) in Montreal or 880 CHED in Edmonton.

https://3downnation.com/2026/08/07/montreal-alouettes-down-four-starting-defenders-against-edmonton-elks/

gobombersgo · August 04, 2026, 11:18:37 PM

Nick Anderson, David Beard returning for Edmonton Elks against Montreal
by 3Down Staff August 7, 2026

The Edmonton Elks will have two of their top veterans back in the lineup for Saturday's matchup with the Montreal Alouettes.

American linebacker Nick Anderson is making his return after missing the last six games with a hamstring injury. He started the team's first two regular-season games at middle linebacker, recording 12 defensive tackles and one special teams tackle.

The 26-year-old rose to prominence in 2024 when he was named All-CFL and the league's Most Outstanding Rookie. He made 111 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception over 18 regular-season games that year.

Anderson played only seven regular-season games due to injury in 2025. He made 41 defensive tackles and one sack.

Rookie first-round pick Dariel Djabome will move into a backup role to accommodate Anderson's return, though there is a possibility he could still start. Canadian linebacker Joel Dublanko, the team's starter on the weakside, is listed as a game-time decision due to a hamstring injury that left him limited in practice. Star halfback Kordell Jackson (illness) is also a game-time decision.

On offence, the Elks will make major changes to their offensive line thanks to the return of Canadian centre David Beard, who has missed the past three games with a calf injury. The 33-year-old has appeared in 147 career regular-season CFL games as a member of the Elks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, earning an All-CFL selection in 2024.

Mark Korte has been demoted back to the role of sixth man in order for Beard to start, but fellow Canadian blocker Brett Boyko has earned a promotion to starting right guard. American rookie Joe Cooper, who started last week, and Canadian draft pick Chris Pashula have both been dropped down to the practice roster.

Elsewhere, veteran Canadian defensive back Royce Metchie has been placed on the one-game injured list after making his return from a torn Achilles two weeks ago. Tyshon Blackburn will dress in his stead.

The Edmonton Elks (6-2) visit the Montreal Alouettes (7-1) on Saturday, August 8, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m. EDT. The Alouettes beat Ottawa 34-13 in Week 9, while the Elks lost 28-26 to Saskatchewan.

The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CBS Sports Network internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on TSN 690 (English) or 99.5 Montreal (French) in Montreal or 880 CHED in Edmonton.

https://3downnation.com/2026/08/07/nick-anderson-david-beard-returning-for-edmonton-elks-against-montreal/

gobombersgo · August 07, 2026, 09:59:25 PM

depth charts posted

dd · August 08, 2026, 09:18:22 PM

Montreal has too much horsepower for Edmonton

Blue In BC · August 08, 2026, 10:02:58 PM

Montreal is clearly the best team in the CFL.

Throw Long Bannatyne · August 08, 2026, 11:13:26 PM

Quote from: Blue In BC on August 08, 2026, 10:02:58 PMMontreal is clearly the best team in the CFL.

Until Jason Alexander goes down, down, down, Maas should know he needs to give the backup QB as many reps as they can afford while up by 20 points.

With more than half a season to go I see another late season injury hobbling Alexander going into the playoffs. it's so appropriate, their downfall will be pursuing individual records and milestones instead of focusing on preserving their best players health thru to the end.

dd · August 09, 2026, 03:47:14 AM

Philipot is clearly the best receiver in the league, an absolute freak of nature. I'd take him over Kenny any day, he d be cheaper and a NAT ta boot. He's going to get big big payday come FA as teams will bid for him for sure. His 3 TD s were the difference today, take him out of Montreal's lineup they're beatable, with him in it, not a chance

Tecno · August 09, 2026, 08:47:43 AM

Quote from: dd on August 09, 2026, 03:47:14 AMPhilipot is clearly the best receiver in the league, an absolute freak of nature. I'd take him over Kenny any day, he d be cheaper and a NAT ta boot.

Nope, next payday Philpot The Greater will make more than every other CFL REC. Kenny was already falling off for many seasons, even before BLM got injured. Because he's a NAT, he won't be cheaper, he'll be far more expensive.

Tecno · August 09, 2026, 08:49:42 AM

I trusted the forecasters who at 7am said MTL was 60% POP the entire game time... chose the team with the better running game. Ya, thanks a lot weatherman! No rain meant Alexander could do another air show. Moral of the story, don't trust the forecasts.

Tecno · August 09, 2026, 08:58:04 AM

Killam lost the game when he inexplicably kicked on 3rd & 1 near the red zone with 45s left. That makes no sense from every level.

1. 3rd & 1 should be a 95% play for every team, even for "let's leave Cody in" EDM. It was virtually guaranteed they get it.

2. You kick it and you're giving MTL 45s from the 40? Uh, that's like 80% chance MTL is going to get a FG themselves, or maybe 20% a TD. The math just doesn't work out.

If they sneak, they lose maybe 10s and have 35s for 3 EZ shots or even more dink & dunk: but they also bleed clock!! It's so stupid. And if they sneak and miss then MTL starts at like the 25 with less time to go and likely can't get the FG!! In other words, the likely scenarios are: sneak & EDM TD, sneak & fail and no one scores, or trade FGs. The last 2 scenarios are the same from a point differential standpoint!!

Even ultra-conservative MOS would have called a QB sneak. Killam's biggest mistake yet as a HC.

Oh ya, and he completely deflated the team there. The O was livid, Cody screaming, the D totally deflated on the next series for MTL and their effortless FG drive. And still in the dumps after halftime. They probably weren't going to win anyhow without rain, but they at least had hope had they gone into HT tied.

EDM starting to reveal they may be the poser... SSK might be too! The real team is MTL. Man, they are going to be hard to beat in the GC until that hammy breaks.

Tecno · August 09, 2026, 09:01:38 AM

The one Philpot TD where he cone-dives is NOT a TD. I can't believe command let it stand. Hand clearly down on the line 2 frames before the cone is hit. And TDs like this are not one of the things that must be "clear and obvious in normal speed". Freeze-frame can and should be used here.

I thought you could argue the ball broke the plane before hitting the cone -- and that would be a TD also if it happened before the hand touched down... but I'm 99% sure the ball did not break the plane because of where it hits the cone. It doesn't swipe it from the side, it hits it from the inside edge.

Not sure why command decided not to correct this. It wouldn't have mattered at all, as it was going to be a 100% guaranteed sneak on 3 tries... and EDM didn't want to bleed any more time off at that moment anyhow. But still, my OCD side wants command to get these right.

TBURGESS · August 09, 2026, 03:48:56 PM

Top tier are Mtl, Skn, Edm in that order. Losing to the top team in the league doesn't make you a poser.

Losing to a team with 1 win, 6 starters out, a 3rd string QB starting his first game who run for almost 300 yards does.

Throw Long Bannatyne · August 09, 2026, 03:59:19 PM

Quote from: Tecno on August 09, 2026, 09:01:38 AMThe one Philpot TD where he cone-dives is NOT a TD. I can't believe command let it stand. Hand clearly down on the line 2 frames before the cone is hit. And TDs like this are not one of the things that must be "clear and obvious in normal speed". Freeze-frame can and should be used here.

I thought you could argue the ball broke the plane before hitting the cone -- and that would be a TD also if it happened before the hand touched down... but I'm 99% sure the ball did not break the plane because of where it hits the cone. It doesn't swipe it from the side, it hits it from the inside edge.

Not sure why command decided not to correct this. It wouldn't have mattered at all, as it was going to be a 100% guaranteed sneak on 3 tries... and EDM didn't want to bleed any more time off at that moment anyhow. But still, my OCD side wants command to get these right.

Any ball contact with the cone seems to count as a TD, recall Bailey's flying TD a couple of seasons ago, his body was completely out of bounds and only the ball in his left hand grazed the cone enough to move it, TD.