{
    "title": "WEEK 3 IN THE CFL ",
    "modified_at": "2026-06-17 11:30:01",
    "published_at": "2026-06-17 11:30:00",
    "url": "https://press.cfl.ca/week-3-in-the-cfl-gzwb1e",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/mZId",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "Stats and storylines heading into this week\u2019s action",
    "slug": "week-3-in-the-cfl-gzwb1e",
    "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/88377ece-fe36-433a-8e50-ce935371e566/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"\"\n                id=\"image-88377ece-fe36-433a-8e50-ce935371e566\"\n                data-id=\"88377ece-fe36-433a-8e50-ce935371e566\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/88377ece-fe36-433a-8e50-ce935371e566/-/inline/no/CFLTW3_SLC_1200x630_EN.jpg\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/88377ece-fe36-433a-8e50-ce935371e566/-/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>HOME GROWN TALENT</strong></p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>Canadians delivered in Week 2, accounting for 53.4 per cent of receiving yards and 50.3 per cent of receptions, while notching 10 TDs.</span></li><li><span>Top Performances </span><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>MTL | Tyson Philpot | 9 rec., 193 yards, 2 TDs</span></li><li><span>SSK | Kian Schafer-Baker | 11 rec., 165 yards </span></li><li><span>BC | Justin McInnis | 10 rec. 129 yards </span></li><li><span>WPG | Tommy Nield | 7 rec., 111 yards</span></li><li><span>TOR | Kevin Mital | 7 rec., 109 yards, TD</span></li><li><span>HAM | Kiondr&eacute; Smith | 5 rec., 92 yards, 2 TDs</span></li><li><span>SSK | Samuel Emilus | 6 rec., 91 yards, 3 TDs</span></li></ul></li><li><span>Last season, three Canadians reached 1,000+ yards (McInnis, Smith and Nic Demski).</span></li></ul><p><strong>QUICK SLANTS</strong></p><p><strong>LEAGUE-WIDE </strong></p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>In Week 2, four quarterbacks passed for 400+ yards in three games &ndash; a feat last achieved in Week 6 of 1995 when seven games were played.</span></li><li><span>Chad Kelly and Davis Alexander combined for 886 passing yards last week &ndash; the highest total by two opposing quarterbacks since 2018 when Bo Levi Mitchell (491) and Michael Reilly (397) combined for 888.</span></li><li><span>Thus far, two-out-of-three offensive plays have been passes</span><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>CFL-wide completion percentage is at a historical 70.4 per cent </span></li><li><span>0.9 per cent of passes have been intercepted (four on 423 pass attempts) </span></li><li><span>Current passer rating sits at an all-time high of 110.5 \u200b \u200b </span></li><li><span>QBs are throwing 11 yards down field per attempt </span></li></ul></li><li><span>There have been fewer two-and-outs than TD drives.</span></li><li><span>Big Plays are currently 25 per cent higher than last season (6.3 vs. 5.1 in 2025).</span></li><li><span>Offensive lines have yielded 2.8 sacks per game.</span></li></ul><p><strong>BC (0-1) at HAM (1-1)</strong></p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>BC has won its previous three visits to Hamilton with the teams averaging 71 points in those matchups.</span></li><li><span>Four of the teams&rsquo; last five matchups have been decided by four points or less.</span></li><li><span>Nathan Rourke is a career 2-2 versus Hamilton; Bo Levi Mitchell is 13-8 against BC.</span></li><li><span>In two matchups last season: </span><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>Mitchell | 694 yards, 6 TD passes</span></li><li><span>Rourke | 697 yards, 2 TD passes, 62 rushing yards </span></li></ul></li><li><span>The Lions have not started 0-2 since 2019.</span></li><li><span>Last week, Justin McInnis notched his 12<sup>th</sup> 100-yard+ game.</span></li><li><span>Mathieu Betts has 12 sacks in his last seven games.</span></li><li><span>Last week, Scott Milanovich moved into 25<sup>th</sup> all-time with 62 wins. Michael Clemons is 24<sup>th</sup> with 68.</span></li><li><span>Larry Roundtree III recorded his first 100+ yard game (124 on 23 carries) last week. \u200b </span></li><li><span>Julian Howsare needs three sacks for 50 in his career.</span></li><li><span>Kenny Lawler has 348 career receptions; his next touchdown catch will be his 40<sup>th</sup>.</span></li></ul><p><strong>TOR (0-1) at OTT (0-1) </strong></p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>Toronto has four victories in the teams&rsquo; past five meetings in Ottawa.</span></li><li><span>Last week, Chad Kelly made his first start in 581 days. He was 28-of-46 (60.8 per cent) for 445 yards and three TDs. He is a career 3-1 against Ottawa.</span></li><li><span>In his first CFL game, Tyler Kahmann notched six catches for 106 yards and a TD.</span></li><li><span>Janarion Grant averaged 20.8 yards on five punt returns last week. \u200b </span></li><li><span>Ryan Dinwiddie takes on his former team for the first time since joining Ottawa. He was 51-35 (.594) with Toronto, winning two Grey Cups.</span></li><li><span>Jake Maier is 3-2 against Toronto in his career. </span></li><li><span>Eugene Lewis (7,320) sits 52<sup>nd</sup> all-time in receiving yards. He needs 111 to reach Top-50 (Marquay McDaniel &ndash; 7,366 and Kerry Watkins &ndash; 7,431).</span></li><li><span>Justin Hardy (3,807) is tied with Gerald Alphin for 7<sup>th</sup> all-time in receiving yards in Ottawa.</span></li><li><span>Kalil Pimpleton had 192 all-purpose yards in Week 1. </span></li></ul><p><strong>MTL (2-0) at EDM (1-0)</strong></p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>Edmonton has not started 2-0 since 2019; Montreal has started 3-0 in the past two seasons.</span></li><li><span>Cody Fajardo and Davis Alexander have never faced one another. Fajardo is 5-1 against Montreal; Alexander is 1-0 against Edmonton. </span></li><li><span>The Alouettes are allowing a league-low 3.9 yards per carry.</span></li><li><span>Jason Maas&rsquo;s Alouettes are 18-8-1 (.685) on the road.</span></li><li><span>On the season, Davis Alexander is 56-of-80 (70 per cent) for 777 passing yards, including a career-high 441 last week, and four TDs to 0 INTs.</span></li><li><span>Alexander can tie the CFL record for most consecutive starts with a victory held by Bo Levi Mitchell (14 in 2016).</span></li><li><span>Tyson Philpot leads the league in receptions (16) and receiving yards (269). He needs 157 yards for 3,000 in his career. </span></li><li><span>Fajardo is two passing TDs away for 100 in his career.</span></li><li><span>Austin Mack will face his former team for the first time. In three seasons (32 games) in Montreal, he notched 136 receptions, 1,973 yards and 6 TDs, while winning a Grey Cup. He is one yard away from 2,000 in his career. </span></li><li><span>Malik Carney is two defensive tackles shy of 150 in his career.</span></li><li><span>In Week 1, Justin Rankin recorded 196 yards from scrimmage. </span></li></ul><p><strong>SSK (1-0) at CGY (0-1)</strong></p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span>In each of his first two seasons as head coach, Corey Mace has led Saskatchewan to 2-0 starts.</span></li><li><span>Trevor Harris is 1-3 against the Stampeders.</span></li><li><span>Last week, Antoine Brooks Jr. recorded a career-high &ndash; and 2026-high &ndash; 13 defensive tackles.</span></li><li><span>Calgary has won five of the teams&rsquo; last six meetings.</span></li><li><span>Calgary swept the season series last year.</span></li><li><span>The Stampeders have not started 0-2 since 2021.</span></li><li><span>Vernon Adams Jr. is 6-2 in his career against the Riders.</span></li><li><span>Dedrick Mills rushed for 112 yards and a TD in Week 1.</span></li><li><span>Jalen Philpot needs 98 receiving yards for 2,000. </span></li></ul><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-9b48b76d-2b15-47ab-ad85-a2552a633c53\">\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">Herb Fung</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Senior Manager, 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:hfung@cfl.ca\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"hfung@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>hfung@cfl.ca</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"tel:(437) 992-9314\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"(437) 992-9314\"><svg class=\"icon icon-mobile release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-mobile\"></use>\n            </svg>(437) 992-9314</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"http://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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