Greg Bell is expected to debut for the Ottawa Redblacks against the Toronto Argonauts after missing Week 1 with a neck injury, while Edmonton faces a major offensive-line setback involving Coulter Woodmansey. Calgary’s defensive stars returned to practice, and
Ottawa’s Week 1 plan didn’t include Greg Bell, and now the Redblacks are preparing to flip that page quickly. Running back Bell is expected to play in Saturday’s home game against the Toronto Argonauts after missing the opener with a neck injury, coach Ryan Dinwiddie told reporters Tuesday.
Bell arrives with momentum from last season’s production. The running back was a CFL East all-star for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. posting 184 carries for 1. 038 yards. catching 62 passes for 426 yards. and scoring six touchdowns in 15 games. His debut with Ottawa. set for the Argonauts contest. is an immediate test of how fast the Redblacks can absorb the loss of Week 1 continuity.
Ottawa also shuffled its backfield after the start of the season. The Redblacks signed former Saskatchewan Roughriders running back Mario Anderson last week. adding him after Week 1 starter Elijah Collins suffered a quad injury. Collins is going to be placed on the six-game injured list. and Anderson’s role could grow quickly if Ottawa’s injury cycle keeps moving.
In Calgary, the Roughriders are dealing with a different kind of uncertainty. Roughriders defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. might miss a couple weeks. coach Corey Mace told reporters Tuesday. after Milligan suffered a shoulder injury last week in the team’s season opener against the B.C. Lions. Mace admitted the timeline is not set in stone.
“It might be a couple weeks, but that guy is a super human, so whatever the timeline is, that’s for the average Joe. I wouldn’t put it past Ro to be back sooner than expected,” Mace said.
Milligan has been a CFL all-star the past two years and was named the league’s top defensive player in 2024. The Roughriders are in Calgary to face the Stampeders on Saturday, and how quickly Milligan progresses could matter as much for matchups as for depth.
Edmonton’s week carries its own heavier weight. The Edmonton Elks are expected to be missing Canadian offensive lineman Coulter Woodmansey for multiple weeks, 3DownNation reported Tuesday. Woodmansey suffered a knee injury in the team’s season-opening win over the Ottawa Redblacks in Week 1. The Elks had already invested heavily in him—3DownNation reported he signed a three-year deal earlier this year that made him the CFL’s highest paid Canadian non-quarterback.
Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo didn’t hide how much the organization expected from Woodmansey. telling reporters. “We obviously paid to get him here. and rightfully so. ” adding that the football intelligence and leadership he brought in training camp will still help the team. even while he’s sidelined. “Just what I saw from him throughout training camp and the leader that he is. the football knowledge that he has. he’s gonna do so much stuff for us behind closed doors even though he’s injured.”.
The Elks host the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday, with Edmonton’s offensive line suddenly forced to adapt without a player it treated as a centerpiece.
Calgary’s defensive picture looks steadier—for now. Stampeders defensive linemen Folarin Orimolade (Achilles) and Jaylon Hutchings (hamstring) were full participants in practice Tuesday after returning from a Week 1 bye. Coach Dave Dickenson said the club still needs to clear hurdles before locking them into Saturday’s lineup.
“I want to see how they feel after this practice. Both did quite a bit. Listen, I’m trying to be smart, but we understand how big every game is. As soon as the doctors say they have a good chance to play 15, 16 plays, we’ll get them out there,” Dickenson said.
Down the road from Calgary, the health report is still shaping Hamilton and B.C. schedules. Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Wynton McManis (knee) and defensive back Jamal Peters (head) missed practice Tuesday. From the B.C. Lions, receivers Seven McGee (foot) and Jevon Cottoy (foot) also missed practice ahead of their game Friday night.
Across the league. the same message keeps repeating through the smallest details: this weekend isn’t only about matchups—it’s also about who can actually line up. Bell’s expected return for Ottawa. Milligan Jr.’s shoulder uncertainty for Saskatchewan. Woodmansey’s multi-week absence for Edmonton. and Calgary’s “see how they feel” approach all point to one theme that players and coaches can’t ignore anymore.
If everyone holds their status, Saturday could still feel like a proving ground. If injuries shift again, the ripple effects will be immediate—especially for teams trying to build rhythm after an imperfect first week.
CFL injury updates Greg Bell Ottawa Redblacks Toronto Argonauts Rolan Milligan Jr. Saskatchewan Roughriders Coulter Woodmansey Edmonton Elks Montreal Alouettes Calgary Stampeders Folarin Orimolade Jaylon Hutchings Dave Dickenson