Breadcrumb Trail LinksFootballCFLPublished Jun 04, 2026 • Last updated 0 minutes ago • 7 minute readCalgary Stampeders players run a drill during practice at McMahon Stadium on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Photo by Gavin Young /PostmediaArticle contentThe Calgary Stampeders are champing at the bit to get going.Advertisement 2THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsArticle contentThey’re certainly feeling it — and who can blame them? — after a turnaround campaign in 2025 and a Grey Cup game to be played on their home turf in November.Article contentArticle contentAnd so the bid to become hometown champs begins with their opener of the 2026 Canadian Football League season Friday night against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium (7 p.m., QR Calgary 770 AM, TSN).“Yeah … man … very excited,” said Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. “Home game to start the season off, got a playoff-calibre team coming in here wanting to take control.“We had a great training camp, and we’re excited to put it out there.”Sure … they are talking the talk.But walking the walk is a different beast, especially with all the buzz of the championship game being held in your own backyard.“The goal every year is to win the Grey Cup, right?” continued Adams. “So, obviously, it’s a lot more pressure, but pressure’s a privilege and we love the opportunity. We love that the Grey Cup’s here.Advertisement 3Article content“So it starts (Friday) … one game at a time.”Here’s what to watch for that will make or break the Stamps’ season — and perhaps make them Grey Cup champs — in 2026 …Read More Stampeders' special teams in 2026: The skinny, the units, the questions ... https://calgaryherald.com/sports/football/cfl/calgary-stampeders/stampeders-offence-in-2026-the-skinny-the-starters-the-questions Stampeders defence in 2026: The skinny, the starters, the questions Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. says “pressure’s a privilege and we love the opportunity” to chase a Grey Cup title on their home turf. Photo by Brent Calver /Postmedia1. THE SCHEDULEIt’s not an ideal starting slate for the Stampeders, who get a bye week immediately after Friday’s season-opener before hosting the defending Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders in Week 3.Their first road game comes against the BC Lions in Week 4, meaning they play their first three contests against the always-competitive Blue Bombers, the reigning kings and the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last fall.So some early resilience might be needed from the Stamps.Your Midday SunYour noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againArticle contentAdvertisement 4Article content“Listen … we’re all excited to play Week 1,” said GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “I mean … come on, you’re crazy if you’re not. We also know it’s a weird schedule, meaning we play and then have a bye. I mean … I think six of us teams have a bye in the first two weeks, so it does kind of make it seem like a little more importance is on this first game, because you never want to go into a bye week on a loss.“But we do know how to win,” continued Dickenson. “I believe our team is learning how that winning formula can help us win and get in that position and — hopefully — make the plays.”It doesn’t get much easier after the first month of football, as after what appears to be an easier spot against the visiting Toronto Argonauts in Week 5, the Stamps go home-and-home with the East Division-favourite Montreal Alouettes before heading to Winnipeg and Hamilton — always tough places to play — in Weeks 8 and 9 to round out the first half of the regular schedule. Stamps kicker René Paredes is starting the season on the six-game injured list. Photo by Darren Makowichuk /Postmedia2. INJURIESMajor injuries can make or break a season for a team.Advertisement 5Article contentThe Stampeders endured plenty last year, especially to big-name players, as they lost superstar receiver Reggie Begelton and veteran middle linebacker Marquel Lee early, sackmaster extraordinaire Folarin Orimolade mid-season and secondary stars Damon Webb and Sheldon Arnold late.And a few of those injuries still linger, with the Stamps’ roster already peppered with key injuries.Both Begelton — with a leg fracture — and Orimolade — with a torn Achilles — continue to be shelved, albeit Orimolade is close to a full return. The rush end’s actually listed on the team’s reserve roster — a new CFL initiative — as a game-day emergency call-up Friday, if needed. Begelton, meanwhile, has been put on the one-game injured list.All-CFL star defensive lineman Jaylon Hutchings (hamstring) — freshly signed in his return from an NFL bid — and clutch receiver Clark Barnes (hamstring) are also on the one-game list and not available for the opener.Meanwhile, it’s a more serious injury for veteran kicker René Paredes (groin), who was placed on the six-game injured list Friday morning. He joins others on that list, including veteran offensive tackle Preston Nichols (leg) and special-teams ace/defensive talent Bailey Devine-Scott (leg).Advertisement 6Article contentArnold (ankle) is back on the six-game, as well, after going down with a serious injury in the final pre-season game last Friday in Edmonton, to cause a bit of a scramble for the Stamps in the secondary heading into the season.Indeed, the season hasn’t yet started and it’s already a large list of key names on the sidelines nursing injuries. Stamps defensive back Jackson Sombach starts the season in the centre-field position. Photo by Gavin Young /Postmedia3. DEPTH CHARGESHow they respond to the current — and future — injuries will be critical in the team’s success.Last year, the Red and White somehow managed to work through them all, forever getting timely next-man-up efforts from relatively unknown talents along the way. Guys such as receiver Erik Brooks, rookie centre Chris Fortin and cornerback Anthony Johnson stepped up and became reliable — even remarkable — starters.They don’t want to have to press their luck on that front again this year, because it won’t always work as positively as it did last season.That’s especially true in the secondary, where injuries seemed to create an ongoing puzzle for the coaching staff in 2025.Advertisement 7Article content“It’s a shuffle, but it’s not that big a deal, actually,” said Dickenson, confident in his secondary no matter the lineup. “I mean … last year we had six new starters back there, so we know we’ve got to build and we know we’ve got to get better and we know we want to communicate and we also know it’s probably a work in progress.“We’ve been working other people in there.”For Week 1, defensive leader Webb slides into Arnold’s boundary-side halfback spot, making Canadian safety Jackson Sombach the starter in Webb’s centre-field position. Thrust into a starting role to open the season, Stamps kicker Jude McAtamney says “it doesn’t matter whether it’s in the game or practice or by yourself, the steps are the same, the ball’s the same shape, the target’s the same size.” Photo by Brent Calver /Postmedia4. SPECIAL TEAMSThere’s pressure on a few new guys to help shape them in their Grey Cup bid, including a new kicker and a new runback artist.With Paredes sidelined at least six games, the Stamps are turning to rookie Jude McAtamney to hold them steady in the kicking game for at least the first third of the season.Paredes’ cleats are certainly big shoes to fill, but the 26-year-old McAtamney says he’s ready.“I’ve just got to give René the respect he deserves,” said McAtamney, after learning he’ll be the kicker for at least the early part of the season. “You know … René’s been here since 2011, and if anyone can play a professional sport that long, they’re doing something right.Advertisement 8Article content“But for me, it’s down to just what I can do,” continued the native of Northern Ireland. “I think every player is probably nervously excited before every game. But for me, it’s kicking the ball. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in the game or practice or by yourself, the steps are the same, the ball’s the same shape, the target’s the same size … So it’s just about doing your process and sticking to that.“It doesn’t matter what situation it’s in.”’The other situation to watch on special teams is what Tyreik McAllister brings to the squad.McAllister played 16 games for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2023, when he recorded 41 kickoff returns for 1,037 yards, 56 punt returns for 602 yards, seven missed-field goal returns for 408 yards.And the Stamps signed him to be just as big-play for them.Yes … they’re hoping for improved field position on a consistent basis gained by the 5-foot-9, 183-lb. McAllister to help put them on track for a Grey Cup. Stamps star Dedrick Mills is eyeing an even bigger campaign than his 1,409 rushing yards and 11 TDs in 2025. Photo by Gavin Young /Postmedia5. BALANCED ATTACKAll-CFL running back Dedrick Mills is eyeing a 1,500-plus-yard campaign, with 20-plus touchdowns, along the ground.Advertisement 9Article contentThat would be nice, for sure.But the Stamps don’t need him to put up such gaudy numbers. They don’t even need him to roll up the kind of stats — 1,409 rushing yards and 11 TDs — that made him the top rusher in the country and the Stampeders’ most outstanding player in 2025.They do, however, need Mills to continue being a constant offensively. Game-in and game-out last year, the big back was a workhorse for the team.And that effort from him is key to what Dickenson loves as a balanced attack from this offence.“The league knows we’re a run team,” confirmed Adams. “We’ve got one of the best backs in the league — if not the best — and we’ve got the best offensive line in the league, in my opinion.“So establish the run yards and let’s just go from there.”Go from there into Adams bumping up his own game.The QB1 excited fans early last season with this dynamic play and winning performances, but an injury knocked him astray in the middle of the schedule. He got back at it late with pretty solid showings to finish with 21 touchdown passes and 4,247 passing yards — both fifth-most in the CFL in 2025.But both he and the Stamps are looking for more from his veteran arm, including better management of the ball. Adams is often troubled by turnovers, highlighted by 14 interceptions last year, and it’s something that must be limited for a Grey Cup to finally follow for him.“I’ve felt great,” added Adams. “Some ups and downs as always, but … hey … body’s healthy and mentally sharp.“I’m just ready to go.”Let’s go, indeed.tsaelhof@postmedia.comhttp://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM Stampeders 2001 alumus James Cotton speaks to the team during practice at McMahon Stadium on Thursday, June 4, 2026. Photo by Brent Calver /PostmediaArticle contentShare this article in your social networkComments Join the Conversation