CFL (Non-Bombers) off-season news

[VictorRomano]

Edmonton loses 2 DL for the season with Achilles injuries, along with 2 others added to 6-game.

https://3downnation.com/2026/05/29/two-edmonton-elks-defensive-linemen-out-for-season-with-achilles-tear-report/

Veteran American defensive end Brandon Barlow and rookie Canadian defensive tackle Darien Newell have both been diagnosed with Achilles tears.

Newell was the 10th overall pick in 2025, but could not play after testing positive for banned subsatances at the combine.  Barlow, playing for Toronto, Hamilton, and now Edmonton, has 123 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, 17 sacks, four forced fumbles, and one interception in 60 career CFL appearances.

Also, Edmonton will also be without veteran Canadian offensive tackle Brett Boyko to start the season, as he will be placed on the six-game injured list due to a hand issue. 2026 second-round pick Benjamin Sangmuah, an uber-athletic defensive back prospect out of UBC, will join him on the six-game after suffering a knee injury.

[Blue In BC]

Edmonton loses 2 DL for the season with Achilles injuries, along with 2 others added to 6-game.

https://3downnation.com/2026/05/29/two-edmonton-elks-defensive-linemen-out-for-season-with-achilles-tear-report/

Veteran American defensive end Brandon Barlow and rookie Canadian defensive tackle Darien Newell have both been diagnosed with Achilles tears.

Newell was the 10th overall pick in 2025, but could not play after testing positive for banned subsatances at the combine.  Barlow, playing for Toronto, Hamilton, and now Edmonton, has 123 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, 17 sacks, four forced fumbles, and one interception in 60 career CFL appearances.

Also, Edmonton will also be without veteran Canadian offensive tackle Brett Boyko to start the season, as he will be placed on the six-game injured list due to a hand issue. 2026 second-round pick Benjamin Sangmuah, an uber-athletic defensive back prospect out of UBC, will join him on the six-game after suffering a knee injury.

That's a lot of serious injuries to start the season, Canadians in particular.

[theaardvark]

These injuries are all because the field is too long, make it 10 yards shorter and a lot of these injuries will be avoided

/sarcastica

[Tecno]

Toronto's QB's were MBT, Franklin

MBT was still considered a starter.  Franklin was supposed to be the second coming -- like Jennings (when he was actually winning), but better.  It was an extremely stout, and slightly overloaded, QB room.  Shedding Zach was thought to be the best thing ever as they cleared SMS space and he was thought to be mush-head with no future.

Goes to show, when it comes to QBs, it's hard to predict anything.  Franklin & Jennings were promptly discarded by the CFL, and Zach goes on to 5 GCs in 5 seasons.

[Tecno]

But having him as an insurance policy is just as valueable, Dinwiddie knows from personal experience what a rookie tossed into a GC due to injury is all about.

Ya, they look like world-beaters and outplay a QB making triple what they do!

   

[Tecno]

uhhhhh...what? Exceptionally good? What team that he was on where he had infinite chances was exceptionally good? I really know you're not talking about those CGY teams.

The first Maier year or two CGY was still good.  They just had a crap QB (Maier) who had a habit of throwing the ball to the opposite-jereseys at the worst time, several times a game.

Look what happened to CGY the instant they hired a real QB (VAJ) that can actually throw more than 15Y without an INT.  Instant turnaround.  You think the whole team magically became better overnight?  Or was it that a decent QB lifts up your entire team and gives them a reason to fight.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

MBT was still considered a starter.  Franklin was supposed to be the second coming -- like Jennings (when he was actually winning), but better.  It was an extremely stout, and slightly overloaded, QB room.  Shedding Zach was thought to be the best thing ever as they cleared SMS space and he was thought to be mush-head with no future.

Goes to show, when it comes to QBs, it's hard to predict anything.  Franklin & Jennings were promptly discarded by the CFL, and Zach goes on to 5 GCs in 5 seasons.

Luckily the rapid rise of James Franklin in Edmonton made Matt Nichols expendable and without Nichols the history of the last 10 years does not happen.  Kinda sad the Bombers have done nothing to recognize his contribution.