{
    "title": "RANKIN HEADLINES WEEK 1 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK",
    "modified_at": "2026-06-09 13:00:01",
    "published_at": "2026-06-09 13:00:00",
    "url": "https://press.cfl.ca/rankin-headlines-week-1-players-of-the-week",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/svId",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "Kennedy and Ceresna also named to week\u2019s best",
    "slug": "rankin-headlines-week-1-players-of-the-week",
    "body": "\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 100%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b5328bc2-02a3-4fb6-be31-fe6223390542/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"\"\n                id=\"image-b5328bc2-02a3-4fb6-be31-fe6223390542\"\n                data-id=\"b5328bc2-02a3-4fb6-be31-fe6223390542\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b5328bc2-02a3-4fb6-be31-fe6223390542/-/inline/no/POTW-commsweek1.jpg\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b5328bc2-02a3-4fb6-be31-fe6223390542/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Story image\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\"></figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p><strong>TORONTO (June 9, 2026)</strong> &ndash; Justin Rankin, Robert Kennedy III and Jake Ceresna have been named Week 1 Players of the Week in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The honour spotlights exceptional statistical performances, pivotal plays, game-breaking feats and more.</p><p>The three players were chosen by a panel composed of representatives from the CFL&rsquo;s Football Operations, Player and Game Statistics, and Content departments.</p><ol class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--numbered release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>JUSTIN RANKIN | RB | EDMONTON ELKS | <a href=\"https://www.cfl.ca/2026/06/07/recap-edmonton-29-ottawa-21/\">EDM 29 &ndash; OTT 21</a></span><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>13 carries for <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw9BY2lqnik\">one touchdown</a> and 102 yards</span></li><li><span>Three rushes of 10+ yards</span></li><li><span>Five catches on seven targets for 94 yards</span></li><li><span>Two 20-yard+ receptions, <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHcm8a-oUso\">including a 63-yard catch</a></span></li><li><span>Ranks third in receiving yards and rushing yards</span></li><li><span>Fourth-quarter major held up as the game-winning play</span></li></ul></li><li><span>ROBERT KENNEDY III | DB | MONTREAL ALOUETTES | <a href=\"https://www.cfl.ca/2026/06/05/recap-montreal-30-hamilton-27/\">MTL 30 &ndash; HAM 27 (OT)</a></span><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>One defensive tackle and one forced fumble</span></li><li><span><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpUxEntrciI\">First-career interception</a> returned 54 yards for first-career touchdown </span></li><li><span>Trailing 24-10, third-quarter pick-six sparked a 20-3 stretch that propelled Montreal to the comeback victory</span></li></ul></li><li><span>JAKE CERESNA | DL | WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS | <a href=\"https://www.cfl.ca/2026/06/06/recap-winnipeg-30-calgary-28/\">WPG 30 &ndash; CGY 28</a></span><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>Five defensive tackles</span></li><li><span>First three-sack performance to reach 49 in career</span></li></ul></li></ol><p><strong>2026 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK &ndash; IN REVIEW</strong></p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>W1 | Justin Rankin (EDM) | Robert Kennedy III (MTL) | Jake Ceresna (WPG)</span></li></ul><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-2990ae5e-8a7a-4676-9102-aeb7a416d307\">\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">Lucas Barrett</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Associate Vice-President, Communications &amp; Public Affairs, Canadian Football League</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:lbarrett@cfl.ca\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"lbarrett@cfl.ca\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>lbarrett@cfl.ca</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"tel:416.802.7852\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"416.802.7852\"><svg class=\"icon icon-phone release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-phone\"></use>\n            </svg>416.802.7852</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://twitter.com/LucasBarrett9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"@LucasBarrett9\"><svg class=\"icon icon-twitter release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-twitter\"></use>\n            </svg>@LucasBarrett9</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"http://www.cfl.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"cfl.ca\"><svg class=\"icon icon-browser release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-browser\"></use>\n            </svg>cfl.ca</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div>",
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