The Calgary Stampeders have signed Matt Shiltz to a one-year contract. For Shiltz this will be the third CFL team he will have laced up for. Shiltz played the backup role in Montreal from 2017 to 2021 as well as in Hamilton for 2022 and 2023.

In that time Schiltz managed 625 rushing yards on 101 rushing attempts scoring 4 touchdowns along the way. Schiltz has 11 career starts but has played 78 CFL games. He boasts a career completion percentage of 65.4 per cent with 4,357 yards passing and 19 touchdowns. He has thrown 18 interceptions and had his most impactful professional season in 2023, throwing a career high 1,556 yards.

Two performances in October 2023 standout where Shiltz completed 16 of 19 passes in Saskatchewan and 14 of 19 passes in a game against BC the following week.

The Stampeders extended Tommy Stevens who has played the role of short yardage QB in Calgary the last two seasons. Stevens has so far only really played as a rushing QB in short yardage situations, taking 100 career attempts 448 yards scoring 15 touchdowns. Stevens has been a reliable rusher but has seldom been looked to to pass the ball having only 10 career completions.

Whether there is any competition for the short-yardage spot from Schiltz remains to be seen but it is worth noting Shiltz is the much smaller between the two making Stevens the more likely candidate for the job of charging through the line with the ball. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches and weighing in at 257 lbs Stevens is 3 inches taller and 50 pounds heavier than Schiltz.

The job of starting quarterback does not appear to be up for grabs after a decent season from Jake Maier. Through the 2023 campaign Maier had a 62.8 per cent completion rate with 4,244 yards -3^rd best in the league. As the 2023 Starter Maier threw 19 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

I Get by With a Little Help From My Friends

In the coming season Maier will have his number one target from 2023, Reggie Begelton. The Stamps extended his contract by a year during the off-season. Begelton has been with Calgary since 2017 with the exception of 2020 and most of 2021 when he suited up for the Green Bay Packers. Last season Begelton made 86 receptions for 1,119 yards and 5 touchdowns. Begelton ranked sixth in the league for receiving yards.

The Stamps have also re-signed quarterback Chris Reynolds who suited up minimally last season. In his time playing for the NCAA Charlotte 49ers Reynolds threw 84 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. He threw 10,266 yards and rushed 863 yards in 46 games.