Zander Horvath of the B.C. Lions, alongside Davis Alexander and Tyson Philpot from the Montreal Alouettes, have been recognized as the Canadian Football League‘s (CFL) Players of the Week for Week 9. These honours highlight exceptional statistical performances and pivotal plays from the recent games.
The selections were made by a panel comprising representatives from the CFL‘s Football Operations, Player and Game Statistics, and Content departments. This weekly recognition celebrates players who have demonstrated significant impact on their respective teams’ performances.
Horvath’s Career-Best Performance
Zander Horvath, a running back for the B.C. Lions, secured the top honour following a career-best performance. The 27-year-old American player achieved career-highs in several key statistical categories during B.C.‘s 35-19 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday. He recorded 17 carries, accumulating 191 rushing yards and scoring three touchdowns. This marked a significant contribution to his team’s win.
His impressive outing in Week 9 earned him a spot on the prestigious list of weekly honourees, underscoring his impact on the field.
Alouettes Duo Recognized
From the Montreal Alouettes, quarterback Davis Alexander and receiver Tyson Philpot also received recognition for their outstanding play. Alexander was named the league’s No. 2 star of the week. He led Montreal to a 34-13 victory against the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday, throwing for 420 yards and completing three majors. His performance included completing 22 of 30 pass attempts with no interceptions, resulting in an efficiency rating of 154.9.
This marks Alexander‘s fourth Player of the Week honour this season, having previously been recognized in Week 2, Week 4, and Week 7. His Week 9 performance also represented his third game of the season and career with over 400 passing yards, and he matched a career-high with three touchdown passes, including six- and 11-yard efforts to Cole Spieker. He also completed three passes of 30 yards or more.
Tyson Philpot, also from the Montreal Alouettes, was acknowledged for his receiving efforts in the same game. He posted 184 receiving yards, making him the fastest Canadian player to reach the 1,000-receiving yard plateau in a single season, achieving this feat in just eight games. This is his fourth Player of the Week honour, having also been recognized in Week 2, Week 4, and Week 6.
During the game against the Ottawa Redblacks, Philpot had nine receptions on 11 targets, averaging 20.4 yards per reception. This was his fifth game of the season and tenth of his career with over 100 receiving yards. He also had two receptions of 30 yards or more, accumulated 81 yards after the catch, and secured two second-down conversions.
Previous Weekly Honours in 2026
The 2026 CFL season has seen several players recognized for their weekly contributions. The Players of the Week have included:
- Week 1: Justin Rankin (EDM), Robert Kennedy III (MTL), Jake Ceresna (WPG)
- Week 2: Trevor Harris (SSK), Tyson Philpot (MTL), Davis Alexander (MTL)
- Week 3: Bo Levi Mitchell (HAM), Justin Rankin (EDM), Kevin Mital (TOR)
- Week 4: Tyson Philpot (MTL), Davis Alexander (MTL), Chad Kelly (TOR)
- Week 5: Vernon Adams Jr. (CGY), KeeSean Johnson (SSK), James Butler (BC)
- Week 6: Justin Rankin (EDM), Tyson Philpot (MTL), Dru Brown (WPG)
- Week 7: Davis Alexander (MTL), Travis Theis (MTL), Dedrick Mills (CGY)
- Week 8: Cody Fajardo (EDM), Tyreik McAllister (CGY), Travis Theis (MTL)
- Week 9: Zander Horvath (BC), Davis Alexander (MTL), Tyson Philpot (MTL)
These weekly awards highlight the consistent high-level play seen throughout the CFL season, with players like Alexander and Philpot earning multiple recognitions. The latest honours for Week 9 were announced on August 5, 2026.
Source: sportsnet.ca
