The Toronto Argonauts have trimmed their training camp roster to 75 players, excluding non-counters. Just ten days before the defending Grey Cup champs return to action in their first preseason game of 2023. The team is also expected to unveil their new uniforms on May 23rd. Four days before they take the field.
In the second wave of roster cuts, CFL teams were required to make reductions by Tuesday at midnight.
The defending Grey Cup champion Argonauts announced with their transactions on Wednesday that they’ve signed National receiver Western University’s Savaughn Magnaye-Jones.
Toronto Argonauts Transactions May 17th, 2023
Released: Defensive lineman Dom Peterson*, long snapper Max Latour, fullback Joe Carbone, defensive back Parnell Motley*, defensive back Devin Hafford*, linebacker Chris Moore*, defensive lineman Will Vereen*, running back Adam Cofield*, receiver Cyrus Holder*, offensive lineman Daviyon McDaniel*
Suspended: Defensive back Cody Hale
Among this second round of moves are a couple of surprises.
There have been a few since training camp officially started this past Sunday. Veteran WR Dontrelle Inman, who the Argos signed in the offseason, has retired, and American free agent WR Tanner Gentry has done the same.
As reported here last week, Toronto has placed DB Maurice Carnell IV on their injured list. He is recovering from an ACL injury and is not expected back until August or September.
The Argonauts released 2022 fourth-round pick OL Braydon Noll and traded away offensive lineman Theren Churchill to the Edmonton Elks for a late-round 2024 conditional draft selection.
As part of the recent wave of moves, Toronto didn’t take long to part ways with long-snapper Max Latour. After drafting his direct replacement, Holy Cross’s Adam Guillemette, in the third round of the 2023 CFL Draft. The Argos also let go veteran fullback Joe Carbone after the team added FB Spencer Nichols in the national player selection process.
Of the eight American players Toronto released, the biggest surprise is cornerback Parnell Motley, who didn’t last very long with Double Blue. The Oklahoma standout was a favorite of some to contend for boundary cornerback duties and potentially help replace All-Star Jamal Peters, who departed for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons in the offseason.
Motley is no stranger to quick exits from pro teams in 2023. The XFL’s D.C. Defenders drafted him, but he was cut during training camp. He was announced as a signee by the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers but didn’t last with the team. The OU corner signed with the Boatmen in late April and departs the Six in rapid fashion.
- Team sources have reached out to indicate that Parnell Motley’s quick release was due to injury and not due to performance or character issues.
The Boatmen are back this year at the University of Guelph for training camp and the preseason. The next step will be determining who makes the Argos 2023 regular season roster from the current group of 75, excluding non-counters.
The Argonauts will open their preseason slate against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Tim Hortons Field in ten days on May 27th. Toronto will host Ottawa for the final preseason contest at the University of Guelph on June 1st before the team returns to BMO Field on June 18th for their regular season opener against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
ARGONAUTS PRESS RELEASE: MAY 17, 2023
TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts made the following transactions today:
- Canadian LS Max Latour
- Canadian FB Joe Carbone
- American DB Parnell Motley
- American DB Devin Hafford
- American LB Chris Moore
- American DL Chris Rice
- American WR Will Vereen
- American RB Adam Cofield
- American WR Cyrus Holder
- American OL Daviyon McDaniel
Suspended:
- Canadian DB Cody Hale
Signed: Savaughn Magnaye-Jones, 5’7 and 165lbs, played at Western University from 2018-2022, where he caught 79 passes for 1,524 yards and 15 touchdowns over 26 career games. Last season the Hamilton native caught 33 passes for 579 yards and nine touchdowns and was named First-Team All-Canadian and an OUA All-Star the past two seasons.
