Stampeders chase playoff progress in 2026 - BERITAJA

CALGARY – The Calgary Stampeders activity to build connected their turnaround and play successful the Grey Cup connected location turf successful 2026.

The comfortableness level of backmost Vernon Adams Jr., is higher to commencement his 2nd play arsenic a Stampeder. Dedrick Mills, the CFL’s apical rusher past season, feels lighter. Reinforcements arrived connected the protect statement connected the eve of the regular season.

The Stampeders, who went 2-0 successful the pre-season pinch wins complete Saskatchewan and Edmonton, unfastened their regular play astatine location Friday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“We had a great, competitory training camp,” Adams said. “We’ve sewage a playoff contender squad coming successful our location this week, truthful it’s a playoff feel.

“Winnipeg, they’re coming to bring it, truthful it’s clip to move up the power a small bit.”

Calgary rebounded from its worst play successful complete 2 decades successful 2024 pinch an 11-7 grounds and a constrictive 33-30 nonaccomplishment to the B.C. Lions successful the West Division semifinal.

Calgary is the big metropolis of the Grey Cup connected Nov. 15.

“We cognize what’s astatine stake,” seasoned kicker René Paredes said. “I deliberation 80 per cent of the squad is backmost and we added a mates of caller guys that look beautiful bully successful campy truthful everybody’s excited, everybody’s motivated and we’re going to effort our champion to person a bully play and lead to the Grey Cup.”

The 41-year-old Paredes embarks connected his 15th CFL season, each pinch the Stampeders. Paredes has won 2 Grey Cups pinch them (2014, 2018).

“We cognize the Grey Cup is here,” Paredes said. “We’re not acrophobic to opportunity it. We conscionable return 1 week astatine a clip and get to our goal.”

The spot of Calgary’s offence past play was the run, led by Mills (1,409 yards). The 29-year-old said his 250 pounds to commencement training campy was the lightest he’d been successful his CFL career.

There’s activity to do successful the receiving corps pinch the departures of apical catchers Dominique Rhymes (retired) and Damien Alford (NFL), but Adams feels the quality a twelvemonth could make since his debut arsenic a Stampeder.

“It makes a immense quality astatine the backmost position coming successful only having 1 off-season and now I had different wholly afloat off-season,” he said. “There’s continuity there.

“Dom, that’s immense shoes to fill. He was our starring receiver past year, but I cognize each these guys are up for it. Jalen Philpot, he’s going to person a immense year.”

The position of seasoned person Reggie Begelton, who sustained a season-ending knee wounded successful Week 2 past year, is unclear.

His return is “taking a small longer,” caput coach and wide head Dave Dickenson said. “We’re moving connected that.”

Defensive lineman Folarin Orimolade returned to believe this week for the first clip since tearing his Achilles tendon successful September’s Labour Day game.

His chap lineman Jaylon Hutchings rejoined the Stampeders connected Sunday. The NFL’s Minnesota Vikings waived Hutchings successful April because of a hamstring injury.

The 26-year-old opted to return to Calgary and signed a three-year statement done 2028.

“You’re not going to perpetrate to that unless you consciousness we’re moving successful the correct direction,” Dickenson said. “Hutch is simply a difference-maker.”

Both Orimolade and Hutchings were medically cleared to play Friday.

Where Calgary needs an upgrade is its return crippled to commencement drives from a much advantageous section position. The Stampeders classed past successful full return yards past season.

Dickenson brought successful erstwhile Hamilton Tiger-Cat moving backmost Tyreik McAllister to bolster that department, and besides stock that load pinch Erik Brooks.

“The large point successful the off-season is find bigger guys to artifact and to effort to get the play started,” said the coach and GM.

“He’s going to property to beryllium arsenic bully arsenic anyone successful the league, Tyreik, and we’ve sewage to fto him get started. He catches the shot clean, don’t property excessively much, but erstwhile there’s a crease and he could deed it, I deliberation you’ll spot immoderate location calls.”

SEASON SNAPSHOT

2025 record: 11-7, third, West Division. Lost 33-30 to B.C. Lions successful section semifinal.

Did you know?: Calgary hasn’t won a playoff crippled since winning the Grey Cup successful 2018.

Key additions: WR Dejon Brissett; WR Rashod Owens; RB Tyreik McAllister.

Key losses: WR Dominique Rhymes (Retired), WR Damien Alford (NFL New Orleans Saints), LB Jacob Roberts (NFL Minnesota Vikings).

Players to watch: QB Vernon Adams Jr.; RB Dedrick Mills; DB Adrian Greene.

This study by BERITAJA was first published June 2, 2026.