Three CFL preseason games close out Week 2 on Saturday, May 23. The Toronto Argonauts visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Edmonton Elks travel to the BC Lions, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers face the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Saskatoon. Fans can watch all three games for free on CFL+, the league's streaming platform.
How to Watch
All three games stream live and free on CFL+. The Toronto at Hamilton game also airs on TSN. The Edmonton at BC and Winnipeg at Saskatchewan games are not televised, so CFL+ is the only way to watch those two.
Saturday's CFL Preseason Schedule
Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
When | Saturday, May 23 at 4:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
Where | Hamilton Stadium, Hamilton, ON |
TV / Stream | TSN. Also streams on CFL+. |
Line | Preseason – full sportsbook lines not commonly posted |
This is the only CFL preseason game on TSN this week. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats finished 11-7 in 2025, won the East Division, and lost the East Final to Montreal. The Toronto Argonauts finished 5-13, placed third in the East, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Toronto enters 2026 under new head coach Mike Miller, who replaced Ryan Dinwiddie after Dinwiddie left for Ottawa.
Hamilton head coach Scott Milanovich said starters healthy enough to play will see up to a half of action. Bo Levi Mitchell starts at quarterback and this is his only scheduled preseason appearance. Tre Ford and Jake Dolegala will both take snaps as they compete for the backup job. Larry Rountree III is listed with the first unit in an open competition at running back.
Toronto's headline story is the return of Chad Kelly. Kelly broke his tibia and fibula in the 2024 East Final and missed the entire 2025 season. He is listed with the starting unit for this game. Nick Arbuckle started in his place last year and threw for 4,370 yards.
Players to Watch:
Chad Kelly (Argonauts, QB) – The 2023 CFL Most Outstanding Player returns to game action for the first time in about 18 months. Miller named him Toronto's 2026 starter in December.
Bo Levi Mitchell (Tiger-Cats, QB) – Plays his only preseason snaps in this game before sitting out the May 29 rematch.
Larry Rountree III (Tiger-Cats, RB) – Gets the first look in Hamilton's open running back competition. The CFL rookie was a sixth-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Tre Ford (Tiger-Cats, QB) – Joined Hamilton after starting games for Edmonton in 2025. Competes with Jake Dolegala for the backup role.
Milanovich, on the timing of the game, via the Canadian Press: "We're getting to that point in training camp where it's been a lot of practices, legs are getting heavy, and things are getting to where they're wrapping up. There's still about three practices left and two pre-season games, but guys are running out of time to make the team."
Edmonton Elks at BC Lions
When | Saturday, May 23 at 5:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
Where | Starlight Stadium, Langford, BC |
TV / Stream | Not televised. Streams free on CFL+. |
Line | Preseason – full sportsbook lines not commonly posted |
The Edmonton Elks missed the playoffs in 2025 and went 6-7 after Cody Fajardo took over as the starter in Week 8. The BC Lions reached the Western Final last season behind quarterback Nathan Rourke.
Edmonton brings most of its starting offence to Vancouver Island and leaves several defensive starters at home. Fajardo starts at quarterback. Receivers Austin Mack and Joe Robustelli make their Elks debuts. David Beard gets the start at centre over Mark Korte. Running back Justin Rankin and Canadian receiver Kaion Julien-Grant do not start. The Elks are sending 70 players on the trip, and head coach Mark Kilam will use the game to evaluate the roster ahead of cuts.
BC will field a younger lineup. Head coach Buck Pierce confirmed the Lions are bringing almost no projected starters. Chase Brice starts at quarterback. Top Elks draft picks linebacker Dariel Djabome, defensive back Benjamin Sangmuah, defensive lineman Darien Newell, and receiver Carter Kettyle are all set to make their first CFL appearances.
Players to Watch:
Cody Fajardo (Elks, QB) – Leads Edmonton's offence after he called the team's intra-squad scrimmage an embarrassing performance.
Chase Brice (Lions, QB) – Gets the start with BC resting its projected starters.
Carter Kettyle (Elks, WR) – The University of Alberta product drew attention in camp and makes his first CFL appearance.
Austin Mack (Elks, WR) – Reunites with Fajardo after the Alouettes released him in January.
Pierce, on his team's readiness, via CFJC Today: "We're ready to play somebody new. I think we're 13 days in now, and we're at a point now where we are ready to go see how the practices translate into a game. We've got some good young talent. Hopefully (players) go out there and showcase that."
Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Saskatchewan Roughriders
When | Saturday, May 23 at 7:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
Where | Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon, SK |
TV / Stream | Not televised. Streams free on CFL+. |
Line | Preseason – full sportsbook lines not commonly posted |
This is the first CFL game in Saskatoon since 1991, and the Roughriders expect a crowd of more than 10,000. The Saskatchewan Roughriders won the 112th Grey Cup in November, the fifth title in franchise history. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers finished 10-8, placed fourth in the West, and lost the East Semi-Final to Montreal as the crossover team.
Saskatchewan plays most of its projected starters in its preseason finale. Trevor Harris starts at quarterback after sitting out the May 18 opener against Calgary. Jack Coan, Brayden Schager, and Tommy Stevens back him up. Kian Schaffer-Baker, KeeSean Johnson, Dhel Duncan-Busby, Sam Emilus, and newcomer Jaylen Johnson start at receiver. A.J. Ouellette starts at running back.
Winnipeg lists Zach Collaros as its starting quarterback. Collaros completed 72.6 percent of his passes for 3,048 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 13 games in 2025. Taylor Elgersma is listed as the backup. Elgersma won the Hec Crighton Trophy at Wilfrid Laurier in 2024 and signed with Winnipeg in April after stints with the Green Bay Packers and Birmingham Stallions.
Players to Watch:
Trevor Harris (Roughriders, QB) – The reigning Grey Cup MVP makes his first preseason appearance of 2026.
Zach Collaros (Blue Bombers, QB) – Gets the start as Winnipeg opens its preseason schedule.
Taylor Elgersma (Blue Bombers, QB) – The 2024 Hec Crighton Trophy winner backs up Collaros in his first CFL preseason game.
A.J. Ouellette (Roughriders, RB) – Returns to the Saskatchewan backfield after sitting out the preseason opener.
Roughriders head coach Corey Mace, on his young players, via SportsCage: "Sometimes you got to grow up fast. You're going to get a mental test, you're going to get a physical test, but we feel they're ready for that and ultimately, they got to go out there and prove that."
What's Next on the CFL Preseason Slate
Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
Fri, May 29 | Hamilton at Toronto (Guelph) | 7:00 PM |
Fri, May 29 | Montreal at Ottawa (TSN) | 7:30 PM |
Fri, May 29 | B.C. at Winnipeg | 8:30 PM |
Fri, May 29 | Calgary at Edmonton | 9:00 PM |
The 2026 CFL regular season opens Thursday, June 4 when Hamilton hosts Montreal. Winnipeg opens June 5 at Calgary, Edmonton opens June 6 at Ottawa, Toronto opens June 12 in Montreal, and BC visits Saskatchewan on June 13.
Quick Hits
All seven CFL preseason games stream free on CFL+. Only Toronto at Hamilton airs on TSN this week.
Bo Levi Mitchell will not play when Hamilton visits Toronto in Guelph on May 29.
Wynton McManis, Hamilton's veteran middle linebacker, faces his former Toronto team in this game.
Nick Arbuckle was named Toronto's Most Outstanding Player candidate in 2025 after Chad Kelly's season-long absence.
This is Edmonton's and BC's first preseason game of 2026. Both teams play once more on May 29.
Saskatoon's Griffiths Stadium hosts its first CFL game since 1991. Winnipeg provided the opposition that year as well.
Which three teams come out on top? Drop your picks in the comments.