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Calgary Stampeders bench William Barnes against Argonauts
by 3Down Staff July 1, 2026
The Calgary Stampeders have made a change at right tackle ahead of their Thursday night matchup with the Toronto Argonauts, benching William Barnes. The team issued its official depth chart on Wednesday.
Bakyne Coly will make his first career start at right tackle after joining the Stampeders in mid-May. The six-foot-seven, 300-pound blocker played collegiately at Purdue University, where he made 12 starts at right tackle as a senior. He spent the first three games of the season on Calgary's practice roster.
In a corresponding move, the Red and White have demoted Barnes to the practice roster. The 26-year-old native of Apopka, Fla. took over the starting role at right tackle late last season after Joshua Coker and Preston Nichols went down with injuries. Coker is no longer with the team, while Nichols is on the six-game injured list.
Calgary has allowed seven sacks through three games this season, which ranks eighth in the CFL.
The Stampeders will start Benny Sapp III at field-side halfback after moving Jaydon Grant to the one-game injured list. Sapp III joined the team a little over one week ago. He recorded 19 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, and one forced fumble with the Saskatchewan Roughriders last season and previously played for the Green Bay Packers.
The rest of Calgary's lineup has remained unchanged from Week 4 when they knocked off the B.C. Lions in Kelowna to notch their first win of the season.
The Calgary Stampeders (1-2) will host the Toronto Argonauts (2-1) at McMahon Stadium on Thursday, July 2 with kickoff scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EDT. The Argonauts are coming off a 40-34 upset victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, while the Stampeders beat the B.C. Lions in Kelowna by a score of 41-33.
The weather forecast in Calgary calls for a high of 19 degrees and a 40 percent chance of rain. The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on TSN 1050 in Toronto or 770 CHQR in Calgary.
https://3downnation.com/2026/07/01/calgary-stampeders-bench-william-barnes-against-argonauts/
Toronto Argonauts rule out Dakoda Shepley against Stampeders
by 3Down Staff July 1, 2026
The Toronto Argonauts have ruled out Dakoda Shepley for Thursday night's game against the Calgary Stampeders. The team issued its official depth chart on Wednesday.
Shepley was a non-participant in practice on Tuesday due to a back injury and was formally listed as questionable. He since been placed on the six-game injured list.
The 31-year-old native of Windsor, Ont. signed with the Argonauts this offseason after spending six years in the NFL as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, and Indianapolis Colts, dressing for 16 regular-season NFL games. He is one of the CFL's highest-paid blockers.
The Argonauts have allowed six sacks through three games this year, which is tied for fifth league-wide, while the offence ranks first with 8.06 yards per play.
Peter Nicastro has been moved from centre to right guard to replace Shepley. Domenico Piazza will start at centre in Nicastro's place with Gavin Coakes being promoted from the practice roster to fill a backup role.
Piazza was signed in June following his release from the Edmonton Elks. The six-foot-two, 294-pound blocker was selected in the fifth round of the 2025 CFL Draft before returning to school at McGill University. This will be his first start at the professional level.
American defensive lineman Da'Marcus Johnson has returned to the active roster after spending last week on the reserve roster. Canadian defensive back Ethan John has also been activated from the one-game injured list.
American defensive back Alex Teubner did not practice this week and has been moved to the six-game injured list. Canadian receiver Tristan Ready has been placed on the practice roster.
Defensive lineman DeWayne Hendrix has also been moved from the one-game injured list to the reserve list.
The Toronto Argonauts (2-1) will visit the Calgary Stampeders (1-2) at McMahon Stadium on Thursday, July 2 with kickoff scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EDT. The Argonauts are coming off a 40-34 upset victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, while the Stampeders beat the B.C. Lions in Kelowna by a score of 41-33.
The weather forecast in Calgary calls for a high of 19 degrees and a 40 percent chance of rain. The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on TSN 1050 in Toronto or 770 CHQR in Calgary.
https://3downnation.com/2026/07/01/toronto-argonauts-rule-out-dakoda-shepley-against-stampeders/
Should change the name to McBarren Stadium, less than 1/4 full, 2nd annual Stampede Bowl is a national embarrassment.
I thought when they created the Stampede Bowl last year they said this was going to be a WPG@CGY thing?! You know, like the Banjo Bowl is always the 2 same teams. What the heck happened to that? It's not even a divisional rival!
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on July 03, 2026, 01:24:31 AMShould change the name to McBarren Stadium, less than 1/4 full, 2nd annual Stampede Bowl is a national embarrassment.
looks like great weather - no excuses for this poor looking attendance. calgary needs to do better.
Stamps pass rush looking deadly, hope the Bombers don't play them for awhile.
Quote from: The Zipp on July 03, 2026, 01:37:31 AMlooks like great weather - no excuses for this poor looking attendance. calgary needs to do better.
For weeks 1-3 we had some say excuses of "season starts too early, people aren't interested until summer".
Now we're in summer. Kids are out of school. This week should see big attendance across the league. I won't hold my breath.
If attendance is bad in these 4 games, and is clearly worse than last year, then I don't know how anyone can defend the commish changes anymore -- because we had polls showing 5% would quit, and maybe 5-10% more "silent quitters" (because the polls were only of uberfans who are more loyal).
The league should be calling
every single person who didn't renew their STH and ask "why". If the answer of a large chunk of them is "55 yard line / other dumb changes" then the commish needs to come out the very next day and say
the 55 stays and he's sorry he's such a dolt.
The CFL may now (in 2027) have all the money in the world but basically zero people want to see it at the cost of watching every telecasted stadium look empty like TOR.
Dickenson The Greater still the biggest gambler in the league. You're up 8, play to the book. What a goofball.
And what's up with this season hardly anyone is going for the coffin! The rules are the same as last season, minus the rouge. The 15YL penalty didn't change. Did punters suddenly lose the ability to hit the 5YL from the 50? Very strange.
Why is the CGY pass rush finally good? Very strange. Kelly is getting no time, and he's taking too long in any event. And are the CGY DBs really blanketing all those power TOR RECs?
Very weird. CGY clearly has come in with a plan that TOR didn't expect. Boy, that's a novel concept <cough> <cough>
No fair, Mital is a receiver with a running backs body.
Yup. Nield is supposed to be our him. ::)
I predicted a high-scoring affair going into this game. Why is it instead a D clinic?
Maybe CGY will go for it here ;D ;D ;D
Let's all remember TOR put up 40 against SSK(!!) last weekend. We all know CGY D is not better than SSK. So what is going on here...
And is Hicks really their #1 choice for franchise RB? How do you go from Carey-level to Hicks?
It seems like DBs are trying a different approach this year -- they use their body and little grabs/tugs to slow down the REC and/or block them from getting over laterally to where the ball is. And they have gotten good at it without drawing DPI.
It's the reason Demski didn't get the big game-winning deep shot late vs EDM. Been seeing it a whole lot this season. Moxey did it to a REC once too.
Quote from: Tecno on July 03, 2026, 02:03:04 AMWhy is the CGY pass rush finally good? Very strange. Kelly is getting no time, and he's taking too long in any event. And are the CGY DBs really blanketing all those power TOR RECs?
Very weird. CGY clearly has come in with a plan that TOR didn't expect. Boy, that's a novel concept <cough> <cough>
because they are healthy - orimilade, hitchings and hicks are probably the best d line in the league
Quote from: The Zipp on July 03, 2026, 02:14:37 AMbecause they are healthy - orimilade, hitchings and hicks are probably the best d line in the league
Then why have they heretofore sucked? Heck, WE beat them! Wow. That's bad.
And the only other team they have beaten is BC, who is also directionless and bad.
Maybe it's just TOR is worse. I had thought TOR had turned a new leaf. Maybe not.
Our DBs would have totally failed on that amazing Philpot tackle that Cesar did. Unbelievable stop.
That is incredible the DB just gave up on stopping that play! Holy moses, it clearly wasn't a TD and Cesar could have stopped him -- ref waited for the re-reach to whistle it. Who doesn't keep playing until they hear the whistle?
Right after his amazing play he loses all his IQ. If this was a MOS team he'd be livid.
And now the returner screws up TWICE? What is happening to TOR. They pull this the one week I pick them?
2min left if the ball goes into the EZ and your name isn't Janarion, you take the rouge!
TOR strikes me as a very loosey-goosey team. So much winging it and hoping, and relying on Kelly's play-making ability. Very undisciplined. Very unprepared.
Just have your mobile/elusive slinger QB chucking it deep to a star-studded REC corps.
I guess the question is whether it works more than it doesn't.
CGY looked like the WPG D on that Kelly walk-in... wide open flat, no one accounting for the QB.
Poor quick six. He's like, why is a snake biting my leg?
Weak DPI there, maybe the final 2 grabs did it.
On a GL off-side, all D players should have a "buddy system" so the guy next to you checks your hands and yells at you. Or sacrifice an end player who polices the whole line and yells out the name of whoever is over.
There's almost always time before the snap to fix it -- it's rarely right before the snap the guys put their hands wrong.
great end to the half here.
Has anyone stayed at that newer-ish high-rise hotel in "Hotel Alley" there across from McMahon? I'm assuming it's a hotel and not apts... Not sure if it's green now, but it was green when they were building it I think.
Quote from: Tecno on July 03, 2026, 02:19:46 AMThen why have they heretofore sucked? Heck, WE beat them! Wow. That's bad.
And the only other team they have beaten is BC, who is also directionless and bad.
Maybe it's just TOR is worse. I had thought TOR had turned a new leaf. Maybe not.
because those players didn't play vs us - 2 anyways. you should know this - it was talked about in the gdt thread.
Quote from: Tecno on July 03, 2026, 02:19:46 AMThen why have they heretofore sucked? Heck, WE beat them! Wow. That's bad.
And the only other team they have beaten is BC, who is also directionless and bad.
Maybe it's just TOR is worse. I had thought TOR had turned a new leaf. Maybe not.
Bombers only faced Hicks, the other 2 were out.
Quote from: The Zipp on July 03, 2026, 02:32:03 AMgreat end to the half here.
Holy .... Surely the DB has to know that he has zero help behind?? If you have no help you simply cannot go for the INT! That is insane. Even our DBs & scheme aren't that bad.
Amazing finish of the half, defensive mistakes plentiful.
Quote from: Tecno on July 03, 2026, 02:34:28 AMHoly .... Surely the DB has to know that he has zero help behind?? If you have no help you simply cannot go for the INT! That is insane. Even our DBs & scheme aren't that bad.
Presidents Choice Memories of Demerio Houston, first time around.
On the plus side, the close score, and now higher-scoring, means that anyone with Kelly or VAJ in fantasy will probably make bank.
This game will probably end up as a barnstormer. Kelly/TOR will throw caution to the wind, even moreso than they usually do.
Man, I hope CGY solves the bathroom problem for the GC. In '19 it took 45 mins to get into the MEN'S bathroom at some random time early in the 2nd Q (i.e. NOT halftime). I can't even imagine the wait for the women's.
You basically have to plan around holding it for 4 hours. Which I can do, but my kids can't.
Missing so much of the game just to take a whiz isn't acceptable. Get 100 portapotties and put them just outside the stadium with an area cordoned off (like WPG does with the smoking section).
That's the worst part of McMahon, everything else is basically the same as our old barn -- not that bad.
Stamps looking lethal.
Quote from: Tecno on July 03, 2026, 02:56:15 AMMan, I hope CGY solves the bathroom problem for the GC. In '19 it took 45 mins to get into the MEN'S bathroom at some random time early in the 2nd Q (i.e. NOT halftime). I can't even imagine the wait for the women's.
You basically have to plan around holding it for 4 hours. Which I can do, but my kids can't.
Missing so much of the game just to take a whiz isn't acceptable. Get 100 portapotties and put them just outside the stadium with an area cordoned off (like WPG does with the smoking section).
That's the worst part of McMahon, everything else is basically the same as our old barn -- not that bad.
They upgraded the flow by adding multiple porta-potties since then, the Stamps billionaire owner cried "spare no expense!"
Wow, TOR D is probably worse than ours. At least we'll keep you in front of us. That's just baaaad.
And Kelly needs to just chuck it. He's not a short game player, never was.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on July 03, 2026, 03:12:01 AMThey upgraded the flow by adding multiple porta-potties since then, the Stamps billionaire owner cried "spare no expense!"
Putting a few portas along the few outside wall spaces in that stadium isn't going to help come GC. It has to be a big number, and I don't see where you find space for that unless they rip down some walls and make the lower concourse bigger.
Kelly neck-tweak there, or just soccer-ing for a flag?
They might hang a combined hundo on the scoreboard
Crazy offensive production this year by multiple teams, qbs accuracy is through the roof
Toronto coaching is questionable..why go for two when one will make it a 13 point game
At this point rack it up to 112 combined so we can witness the highest score ever
Making the RTQB calls they ignored against Zach last weekend.
Can't recall seeing this much offence so early in the season.....what a whoopin' the Stamps are laying on the Argos! VA just tied a Stamps record with 6 pass TDs....and throw in another 22 Yd. TD run! There's still 8 minutes left....maybe 7?
Kelly almost tosses two pick sixes in a row
While I want VA to rack up 8 TDs, really Dave? You don't have a viable #2 and the game is won, bench him
Quote from: BlueInCgy on July 03, 2026, 04:03:02 AMWhile I want VA to rack up 8 TDs, really Dave? You don't have a viable #2 and the game is won, bench him
Josh Love, wonder what happened to that PJ guy?
if I'm a defensive coordinator ty I'm blitzing every other play
Quote from: Pete on July 03, 2026, 03:46:51 AMToronto coaching is questionable..why go for two when one will make it a 13 point game
I'm at 4Q14:07 and I think TOR has gone for 2PAT 3 times so far, got zero. I bet they'll do it more before I'm done watching. That's 3 easy points they blew.
This is why MOS always go for 1PAT until it's later in the 4th. Even if the math hints you gain advantage by going for 2, he'll still go for 1.
The new TOR HC might learn from this...
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on July 03, 2026, 03:58:24 AMMaking the RTQB calls they ignored against Zach last weekend.
Yup. That one they threw early in the 4th on VAJ was 100% not RTP in almost every other game and every other year. Not late. Not hard.
League is basically saying if the ball is gone you cannot hit. Doesn't matter if it's only 1/10th a sec.
This puts the rushers in a bind because the QB always has the option of a pump fake or a tuck. If you held up and the QB tucks and takes off, you're screwed.
Why is there 8:00 left in the game as it reaches the 3 hour mark?? Who is timing this thing? TSN always tries to fit games in 3 hours even, maybe going over by 5-8 minutes sometimes. I've never seen hitting 3 hours with 8:00 left -- that's like 30 mins of ball, at least.
Normally if the game is going slowly TSN will stop / reduce the ads.
Very strange.
Pretty sure we ain't beating CGY anymore this season. VAJ found his mojo, and the playcallers are fully awake. And that D is stout.
Kelly will be tough too, because our DL ain't gonna do what CGY'd DL did!
Quote from: Lincoln Locomotive on July 03, 2026, 03:59:34 AMCan't recall seeing this much offence so early in the season
Ya, that really needs its own thread. It's a bit perplexing.
What's different?
- Rouge changed: but so few teams are going for it in the "limbo zone". CGY went for it a bit tonight but failed every time. So I'm not sure the rouge change is the cause.
- Rouge and "out the back of EZ" comes out to the 40 now. That's new, right (was 35?)? That makes it easier... but so much easier that basically every team is hitting the over?
- 35s clock? I think it's causing only a handful of more plays per game so far? But maybe it's changing the mentality somehow. Maybe the O's are better able to adjust and pre-plan the calls and the D's don't have enough time to do the same. Or maybe it's the fact D's don't have time to change the personnel sets a zillion times a draw like they used to?
- Did a ton of great vet DBs retire or go 6GIR?
- What am I missing? What do you think it is?
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on July 03, 2026, 04:13:18 AMJosh Love, wonder what happened to that PJ guy?
He was basically their copy of Wilson3. Bye!
Quote from: Tecno on July 03, 2026, 04:49:06 AMPretty sure we ain't beating CGY anymore this season. VAJ found his mojo, and the playcallers are fully awake. And that D is stout.
Kelly will be tough too, because our DL ain't gonna do what CGY'd DL did!
The way they played they're poised to smoke Sask. too.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on July 03, 2026, 04:57:30 AMThe way they played they're poised to smoke Sask. too.
Ya, but too bad they don't meet again until week 18. And SSK got them when they were still "easy" in week 3.
We have CGY at home in week 8. Ouch. Things are going to get pretty ugly around here when we lose week 5, 6 & 8. 7 against OTT maybe we have a hope, though probably not because Dinwiddie will just run the '24 GC "don't need a talented QB" dink & dunk plan and we'll give up 100% of passes underneath and make Hicks look like the next Cornish.
this is without begelton. honestly i fell asleep so not sure what happened in the 3rd and 4th.
VAJ is a streaky qb so this won't be what you see every week from him.
receivers just seem to more open this season. like wide open
Quote from: Tecno on July 03, 2026, 04:47:17 AMWhy is there 8:00 left in the game as it reaches the 3 hour mark?? Who is timing this thing? TSN always tries to fit games in 3 hours even, maybe going over by 5-8 minutes sometimes. I've never seen hitting 3 hours with 8:00 left -- that's like 30 mins of ball, at least.
Normally if the game is going slowly TSN will stop / reduce the ads.
Very strange.
This is actually something I noticed too. Realized it was after 11 and tons of game left still.
I wonder if because it was the 'Stampede Bowl' they had an extended half time for a concert or something? I only watched bits and pieces of this game and most after it was already out of hand.
All the TDs and scoring stops the clock quite a bit and lengthens the game time. You've got almost 100 points scored. It's going to run longer than average for certain.
Quote from: Tecno on July 03, 2026, 04:49:06 AMPretty sure we ain't beating CGY anymore this season. VAJ found his mojo, and the playcallers are fully awake. And that D is stout.
Kelly will be tough too, because our DL ain't gonna do what CGY'd DL did!
The season ebbs and flows. Last year Calgary was unbeatable early, then BC was but it was Regina that was more consistent and got the home playoff and then the Cup.
Quote from: Waffler on July 03, 2026, 03:26:01 PMThe season ebbs and flows. Last year Calgary was unbeatable early, then BC was but it was Regina that was more consistent and got the home playoff and then the Cup.
Yep, it looks like this season could be a roller coaster ride with no one team completely dominating the standings, hopefully no team gets left behind, BC should be ok but Ottawa could have difficulty getting more than a handful of wins. Injuries to QB's will play a big part in the unpredictability of the season as it always does.
We've seen very strong performances this year from BC, Sask and Calgary, and we just lost a stinker to Edmonton....the west is going to be very tough this year and I don't think we have the horses to run with the big dogs this year
The game book for last night's game shows kickoff at 21:09 and game over at 0:26 (ET). Total run time was 3:08 with a note "*Excludes 9 minutes for extended halftime."
There were a total of 162 plays which is on the high side.
Heading into this week (after 14 games played) :
Average # of plays (regulation time) - 150.0 (2026) | 145.2 (2025)
Average # of plays (before 3:00) - 112.8 (2026) | 115.9 (2025)
Average # of Plays (after 3:00) - 37.2 (2026) | 29.3 (2025)
We are seeing fewer plays per game when the 35 second clock is in effect :o
It is more consistent, which is a good thing.
Quote from: Stats Junkie on July 03, 2026, 06:20:36 PMThe game book for last night's game shows kickoff at 21:09 and game over at 0:26 (ET).
Ya, very unusual for a
non-overtime game to go 3h26m. They usually just stop doing ads at all for vast swathes of time in the 4th Q to make up for a game running late.
Unless TSN purposely allocated 3.5 hrs for this one. But again, that would be weird.
Quote from: Tecno on July 04, 2026, 04:40:16 AMYa, very unusual for a non-overtime game to go 3h26m. They usually just stop doing ads at all for vast swathes of time in the 4th Q to make up for a game running late.
Unless TSN purposely allocated 3.5 hrs for this one. But again, that would be weird.
I suspect run time is Stuart Johnson's main interest in the game of football, as a child he preferred to be the timer rather than a participant. At the end of each game he took great joy in blowing his whistle loudly for all to hear.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on July 04, 2026, 05:58:23 AMAt the end of each game he took great joy in blowing his whistle loudly for all to hear.
Not sure I needed that visual!