Vernon Adams Jr.
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. practises at McMahon Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.
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Faith, fire and football …
It seems to form a holy trinity — of sorts — for Vernon Adams Jr.
His faith in God has him believing in himself and his teammates.
His fire on the field has him slinging the ball better than perhaps ever before.
And his affinity for football has the quarterback loving where his Calgary Stampeders are headed if they pull off a win Saturday afternoon in Winnipeg.
That is to the Canadian Football League playoffs.
“I don’t know, I don’t know,” said 11th-year CFL QB Adams, when asked if his confidence has ever been this high this late in the CFL schedule.
“Not really, because my faith was never as strong as it is now,” continued Adams. “So with my faith being as strong as it is now, I have that full belief. And I’m just gonna keep believing and keep praying and keep working hard.”
Indeed, the Stampeders QB enters Saturday’s pivotal visit by the Stampeders (8-8) to play the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-8) at Princess Auto Stadium (5 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary 770 AM) playing his best football of the season, carrying consecutive CFL Player of the Week honours and a conviction that reaches beyond the team’s three-game winning streak.
And that belief has Calgary one victory from the playoffs.
Once a perceived long-shot to make the playoffs by many pundits — fans included — the Stamps would earn entry into the post-season triumph with one win from their next two games. If they fail to find victory in Winnipeg, their Oct. 17 home finale against the BC Lions becomes the next pressure point.
Adams has driven the turnaround. He completed 22-of-29 passes for 242 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in last Friday’s 37-31 victory over the host Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium. The performance followed his six-touchdown game against the Ottawa Redblacks.
Vernon Adams Jr.
Vernon Adams Jr. earned praise from coach Dave Dickenson for his recent efforts.
“Vernon had another solid game,” Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson said of the decision in Regina. “He’s doing the little things better and better but also doing the same things he was doing early with being explosive, but still taking care of the football. So those are all good things.”
Adams threw touchdown passes to Clark Barnes, Damien Alford, Tevin Jones and Jalen Philpot. He managed the pocket, extended plays with his legs and avoided the turnover that could have changed a six-point game.
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“Yeah … like two weeks in a row (named CFL player of the week),” continued the coach. “Congratulations for V on that. It was a big game. It was one of those games that we knew, in order to win, our quarterback would have to play well — and he did that. He managed the pocket well. He made a lot of big throws. He used his legs. We had a game where we were pretty low on our penalty total, which is something that we’re we talk about, but we’re happy to see. And just a nice game for Vernon and the offence.
“But new challenges … a new day. Basically, feel like don’t rest on your laurels. Just play ball, get better, and try to win the next one.”
HOW DO THE STAMPS WIN IN WINNIPEG?
With the same fire — cue Adams once more — that got them the win in Regina last Friday.
The Stampeders proved last week that they can thrive in hostile territory.
The Stampeders walked into Mosaic Stadium facing a Riders team with its own urgent stakes and left with a convincing victory. Adams threw four touchdown passes, scoring on explosive plays before the team absorbed a late Roughriders push without surrendering the lead.
Now comes Winnipeg, another loud building, another desperate West rival and a game that can punch a playoff pass for the Red and White.
“It’s a fun place to play — they pack it and they support their guys,” Dickenson said. “The Bombers always have a physical mindset. They have a lot of veteran players that understand how important this game is.”
And they need the win to stay on pace in the playoff chase.
For the first time in at least a month — and possibly much longer — it’s not just the Stamps feeling the heat of a need-to-win contest.
Tevin Jones
Stampeders wide receiver Tevin Jones describes his team’s approach as one step, one play and “one bite at a time.”
“Yeah … it feels good,” Adams said. “You know, we want to start hitting our stride right now. You don’t want to get too big-headed or anything like that. But we’re going to enjoy this, and we’re going to correct those mistakes, and we’ve gotta go to another hostile environment this week.”
The season series is tied 1-1, with each team having won in the other’s building. The Stampeders took the most recent meeting 52-30 in July, but neither side expects that score to matter now.
“They’re fighting,” said Adams of the Blue Bombers. “And we’re fighting.”
Stampeders receiver Tevin Jones described his team’s approach as one step, one play and “one bite at a time.”
Added Jones, “You can’t worry about too much. All you can do is worry about what you can control, and that’s there in front of you.”
HOW HAS ADAMS COME TO FIND THE CONFIDENCE?
It starts with his Christian faith.
With Adams, you can’t miss it.
But Adams also believes in the players around him, and the Red and White receivers believe their quarterback can turn any snap into something larger.
“What hasn’t he done?” Jones said. “It’s in his name from before when I didn’t know him. They called him ‘Big-play V.A.’, and now that I do know him, I know why they call him ‘Big-play V.A.’ It’s just that when he’s out there having fun, he does his best, and … he’s out there having fun, and that’s it.”
Fun and feeding off the faith, too.
But now that faith gets tested with a third-straight road game — winning three straight away from home is a massive football challenge — and with complications now along the offensive line.
The protection in front of Adams — which Dickenson praised for the effort in Regina — is being rebuilt during its most consequential week. Left tackle Zack Williams (foot) was seen on crutches Thursday, while right end Brad Ashmore (ankle) was wearing a walking boot, leaving two more starters unavailable to face the Bombers.
The damage started before kickoff in Regina. Williams felt something pop in his ankle during warm-ups. The Stamps turned to veteran Bryce Bell to slot in at tackle, but Bell (shoulder) was injured during the game, forcing Williams back in to play despite being seriously hobbled.
“It was very challenging from the git-go,” Dickenson said. “Then Bryce gets hurt, and Zack’s in there just basically on one leg. So credit to him to really just gut it out and have a great effort.”
The Stampeders signed Canadian offensive lineman Tyler Packer on Wednesday, adding a former Lions protector who made 14 starts in 19 regular-season appearances over four seasons. He supplies experienced depth — along with longtime Stamps lineman in Preston Nichols (pectoral) returning from the injury list — but the sudden reshuffle could be a sore spot for the Stamps.
“Everyone has been practising and working together and doing what they need to,” Dickenson said. “Everyone wants an opportunity. Just a few more guys will get that opportunity this week.”
Adams isn’t flinching, leaning on his faith once more, by citing a passage from the Bible — specifically, the book of Daniel — in having a revamped o-line to work with in Winnipeg.
“They’re getting thrown into the fire,” added Adams. “They’re going to work, and we’re going to try to get it done together.”
Faith has brought Adams and the Stamps this far.
Trust must carry them through to the playoffs.