The accolades keep coming this week for Argos players. A day after DB Jamal Peters was named top CFL performer in Week 12. The CFL named LB Wynton McManis as a top performer for August.
Undoubtedly the Argonauts’ best off-season signing. Wynton McManis has made a triumphant return to the CFL with Toronto. After spending two seasons in the NFL. The Boatmen’s brain trust made the full court press earlier this year to lure McManis back to Canada. The move has paid off, and then some for Double Blue.
McManis is having an All-Star campaign at weakside linebacker. He leads the league in tackles with 76, has produced three sacks, and has a game-winning pick-six interception at TD Atlantic under his belt. The Memphis standout has helped the Boatmen anchor a defense that has held opponents to a league-low 40.7% conversion rate in the red zone, the third-fewest touchdowns (18), and is holding opponents to the second lowest second down conversion rate (44.7%).
McManis and the East Leading Toronto Argonauts (5-5) are preparing for the 51st Labour Day Classic between them and Hamilton (3-8) next Monday afternoon. It will be the Argos’ fourth meeting with the Ticats in their last five games. The Boatmen will attempt to snap a seven-game LDC losing streak to the Tiger-Cats.
Argonauts Monitoring NFL Cuts
On Tuesday, Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie admitted to Frank Zicarelli of the Toronto Sun that he and the team’s front office have their eyes on all the NFL roster cuts this week. And they would like to add some new pieces to the roster potentially.
Dinwiddie revealed that he was reviewing the list of players cut by the NFL. Toronto does have a couple of Americans on their 2022 Negotiation list, like Northwestern State offensive lineman Jonathan Hubbard who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently released.
The Argos would certainly love to add someone south of the border that can come close to duplicating what McManis has done for them this season. Although, that’s highly wishful thinking at this stage of the game.
However, The team has had success with new arrivals to Canada recently. WR Damontie Coxie and DE Brandon Barlow were crucial contributors in Toronto’s 37-20 victory over Hamilton last week.
But with injuries mounting, getting reinforcements on short notice to contribute is no small task. Toronto has backfield concerns, amongst other areas. CFL rookie RB/KR Javon Leake is dealing with a hamstring injury, and he will likely miss the LDC. And the team is without a healthy fullback with Joe Carbone and long-time Argo Declan Cross on the shelf mending wounds. The Boatmen went without dressing a fullback in last week’s game against Hamilton. Cross appears close to returning. But time will tell.
The Argos have some additional time this week to prepare for the start of a four-game road trip. It all starts in the Hammer, stays in Ontario with back-to-back games with Ottawa, and then concludes with a trip to Calgary. The first-place Boatmen sit at 5-5. They can better their chances for the postseason by surviving this next stretch of games before returning to BMO Field on October 8th and facing a familiar foe in QB Vernon Adams, who was traded to BC from Montreal earlier today.
ARGOS LB WYNTON McMANIS NAMED CFL TOP PERFORMER FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST
TORONTO – The Canadian Football League announced today that LB Wynton McManis has been named a CFL Top Performer for August.
McManis, in his first season with the Argos, had a spectacular month of August, recording 33 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble in four games, helping the Argos to a 2-2 record over those games. The four-year CFL veteran had two games last month with double-digit defensive tackles, both Argonaut wins. The 27-year-old linebacker leads the league in total tackles with 76 and total defensive plays with 85. McManis has also added three sacks; one interception returned 50 yards for a touchdown, one pass knockdown, and three tackles for loss in 10 games played in 2022. The Memphis alum has helped the Boatmen to the top of the East Division standings and anchored a defense that holds opponents to a league-low 40.7% conversion rate in the red zone, the third-fewest touchdowns (18), and is holding opponents to the second lowest second down conversion rate (44.7%).
