Elks’ Offensive and Defensive Standouts
Justin Rankin of the Edmonton Elks was named Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 6. Rankin rushed 14 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns, adding three receptions for 43 yards and another score. Following this game, he has accumulated 513 rushing yards and 297 receiving yards for the season. His efforts contribute to a strong rushing attack for the Elks, which also saw the return of Javon Leake, who gained 85 yards on the ground against Ottawa.
The Elks also saw Kordell Jackson recognized as Defensive Player of the Week. Jackson recorded three defensive tackles, two interceptions, and two pass knockdowns. His two interceptions marked his first multi-interception game in his CFL career. The Elks‘ defence was a key factor in their 40-17 victory, forcing four turnovers and allowing 337 net yards. Defensive Coordinator J.C. Sherritt was named Coach of the Week, as the Elks returned to the top spot in the CFL for yards allowed per play after Week 5.
Special Teams and Breakout Performances
Trey Vaval of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers earned Special Teams Player of the Week. Despite an early fumble, Vaval responded by returning a missed field goal 129 yards for a touchdown, establishing a new franchise record. He concluded the game with 332 return yards on 11 attempts.
The Breakout Player of the Week award went to David Perales of the Montreal Alouettes. In his first career start, Perales made an immediate impact with one defensive tackle, one sack, and one pass knockdown. His pass knockdown sealed the game for Montreal by batting down a pass near the goal line with 15 seconds remaining.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders‘ offensive line, consisting of Payton Collins, Zack Fry, Logan Ferland, Jacob Brammer, and Jermarcus Hardrick, was recognized as the Offensive Line of the Week. They allowed only one sack and contributed to generating 137 rushing yards against the Tiger-Cats.
Notable Plays and Games
The Best Play of the Week was attributed to Tyson Philpot of the Alouettes for his touchdown catch. During the play, Davis Alexander connected with Tyler Snead on a bubble screen, and Snead then threw a pass to a diving Philpot in the end zone. Philpot has had a strong start to the season, with 45 catches for 719 yards and four touchdowns. His current pace suggests he could challenge the single-season receiving yards record of 2,036 yards set by Allen Pitts in 1994.
The Worst Play of the Week was Alex Hale‘s missed 35-yard field goal for the Roughriders against Hamilton, which occurred in a tied game. This comes after the Roughriders brought in Hale following Brett Lauther‘s performance in 2025. Lauther, now with Ottawa, has a perfect record of 14-for-14 this year.
The game between the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was named the Best Game of the Week. Dru Brown, in his first start back in Winnipeg, led his team to a 30-21 victory over Toronto. He completed a 35-yard touchdown pass to Tim White in the first quarter and made a crucial 19-yard gain to Tommy Nield late in the game. The Blue Bombers‘ re-acquisition of Brown is considered a significant move, especially given Zach Collaros‘s absence for five games last season.
Conversely, the game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Saskatchewan Roughriders was deemed the Worst Game of the Week, with the Roughriders winning 38-7. The Tiger-Cats struggled, raising questions about their performance without Bo Levi Mitchell. The Roughriders‘ defence, however, performed well, with Trevor Harris‘s two interceptions resulting from strong plays by Wynton McManis and Stavros Katsantonis.
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Source: 3downnation.com
