GDT Tor at Mon, Friday June 6, 6:30PM

[GOLDMEMBER]

Massive questions linger like a totally new DL for the Argos and can Alexander hang with the big boys as starting QB for the Als?

Intriguing contest. I don't which team I want to lose more here.

[Jesse]

Massive questions linger like a totally new DL for the Argos and can Alexander hang with the big boys as starting QB for the Als?

Intriguing contest. I don't which team I want to lose more here.

Toronto is the worst. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Toronto is the worst. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

LOL, you got a point there.

[gobombersgo]

[gobombersgo]

[gobombersgo]

Grey Cup MVP Nick Arbuckle leads Toronto Argonauts into opener with 13 different starters
By 3Down Staff -June 5, 2025

The defending champion Toronto Argonauts will still have the Grey Cup MVP at the helm when they open the 2025 season on Friday, but the lineup will include 13 different starters from the last time they took the field.

Nick Arbuckle will get the nod at quarterback as franchise pivot Chad Kelly begins the year on the one-game injured list while recovering from the broken leg he suffered in the East Final. The 31-year-old native of Oxnard, Ont. threw for 252 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in his last start, capturing the championship hardware. Rookie Tucker Horn and recent signee Jarret Doege will back him up.

The rest of the lineup around him will be dramatically different, however. Following the surprise release of running back Ka'Deem Carey, second-year scatback Deonta McMahon will lead a backfield tandem alongside rookie Miyan Williams. In the receiving corps, the Argonauts will start three Canadians with former Hec Crighton Trophy winner Kevin Mital earning a promotion to the first team in his second season.

Up front, the team will roll with inexperienced American youngster George Moore at left tackle, bumping the reigning Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Ryan Hunter, over to right tackle. Highly anticipated rookie Sage Doxtater will start at left guard, Anthony Vandal holds on to his job at right guard, and Darius Ciraco will get the nod at centre. Peter Nicastro and Dylan Giffen will provide depth.

On the other side of the ball, the entire defensive line will have a new look. Defensive end Derek Parish and defensive tackle Jordan Williams will step into full-time starting roles after promising rookie seasons, while the unproven Andrew Chatfield Jr. makes his debut as the other defensive end. The Argos will start a free-agent acquisition at defensive tackle but it is former Rider Demarcus Christmas who gets the nod, with Anthony Lanier serving as a backup.

Canadian linebacker Cameron Judge will start on the weak-side after he was acquired via a blockbuster trade in January, forming a talented duo with Wynton McManis. Donald Rutledge Jr. takes over at strong-side linebacker after last playing in the CFL in 2022 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where he made 58 defensive tackles, two sacks, and an interception.

In the secondary, free-agent signee Darrius Bratton will debut at field-side halfback after coming over from Edmonton in the offseason. Rookie Derek Slywka, who began training camp as a receiver before returning to his college position of defensive back, will start the season at safety.

Toronto will also have a change in the return game, as reigning Most Outstanding Special Teams Player Janarion Grant will begin the season on the one-game injured list after missing practice with a bad ankle. Rookie Calvin Turner Jr. is expected to handle his responsibilities.

In addition to Kelly and Grant, Canadian offensive lineman John Bosse (knee) will begin the season on the one-game injured list. Defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. (Achilles) has been placed on the six-game injured list and is expected to miss the entire season. Canadian receiver Hergy Mayala, American defensive back Kenneth George Jr., and American defensive linemen Atlias Bell and Celestin Haba are all listed as healthy scratches.

The Argonauts will begin their season on Friday, June 6 against the Montreal Alouettes. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT at Percival Molson Stadium.

https://3downnation.com/2025/06/05/grey-cup-mvp-nick-arbuckle-leads-toronto-argonauts-into-opener-with-13-different-starters/

[gobombersgo]

QB Davis Alexander begins tenure as face of franchise alongside tweaked Montreal Alouettes lineup
By 3Down Staff -June 5, 2025

The Montreal Alouettes will start a new era on Friday night but most of the players on the field will be very familiar to fans.

The team will introduce a handful of new starters into the lineup for their season opener, though most already have experience with the team. Chief among those is quarterback Davis Alexander, who made just four starts last season but impressed enough to push out Cody Fajardo as the face of the franchise. He'll begin the season as the unquestioned starter for the first time in his career, with McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Caleb Evans backing him up.

Alexander will have another new starter with a familiar face beside him in the backfield, as veteran Canadian running back Sean Thomas-Erlington will get the first reps after the surprise release of Walter Fletcher. Rookie Travis Theis is also expected to get plenty of touches in his CFL debut. The receiving corps will remain mostly unchanged, save for the return of Canadian standout Tyson Philpot from his season-ending injury last year.

Up front, Jamar McGloster will continue to start at right tackle after he took over for the injured Josh Donovan, who has since been released, late last year. The major change is a ratio swap that will see American Donald Ventrelli start at right guard after spending most of last season on the practice roster.

On the defensive side of the ball, free-agent acquisition Shawn Oakman and Canadian Lwal Uguak will start at defensive tackle while Mustafa Johnson (knee) remains on the six-game injured list to start the season. Lorenzo Burns will continue as the boundary cornerback after winning the job late last year, while two raw rookies will earn starts in Byron Vaughns at defensive end and Tiawan Mullen at strong-side linebacker. Second-round CFL Draft pick Nate Beauchemin is also listed as a starter at weak-side linebacker on paper, though he is expected to rotate in favour of Tyrice Beverette to take advantage of the designated nationalized American rule.

In addition to Johnson's absence, running back Stevie Scott III (knee); defensive linemen Trevon Mason (shoulder), Josh Archibald (hamstring), and Antonio Moultrie (back); and defensive back Dionte Ruffin (hamstring) will begin the season on the one-game injured list. Canadian offensive lineman Cyrille Hogan-Saindon and quarterback James Morgan will be healthy scratches.

The Alouettes will open the season against the Toronto Argonauts on Friday, June 6. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT at Percival Molson Stadium.

https://3downnation.com/2025/06/05/qb-davis-alexander-begins-tenure-as-face-of-franchise-alongside-tweaked-montreal-alouettes-lineup/

[TecnoGenius]

Haha, I like the new Friday Night Football intro with the players singing.  Is that the "new look" the media was talking about??  Or is it a one-off just for this one?

This game will be the "who is best in the east" game and should set the tone for the season.  Clearly OTT isn't the powerhouse some pundits thought they'd be...

[J5V]

Montreal playing well and is looking to be ahead of the curve early in the season. They're well-coached and the players are executing.

[The Zipp]

remember when we lost the Grey Cup to Arbuckle???

i don't...

[The Zipp]

philpot is going to be great this season

[The Zipp]

nice without the horns

[markf]

This makes the Grey Cup loss worse.

[J5V]

This makes the Grey Cup loss worse.

Meh. Not winning just means things didn't go your way. Happens.

[Jesse]

remember when we lost the Grey Cup to Arbuckle???

i don't...

Montreal has an aggressive D the same way Toronto has over the past few years. With all of the change in TO over the offseason and Arbuckle starting, this was bound to happen.