What to Watch for in Pre-Season Game #2: Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Toronto Argonauts @ Guelph

Hamilton Tiger-Cats 2026 Pre-Season Game #2

Visiting Team: Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Home Team: Toronto Argonauts

Date and Time: Friday, May 29th @ 7 pm EDT

Game Location: Alumni Stadium, Guelph, Ontario

Where to Watch: In Canada, US, and International - CFL+

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats conclude training camp for 2026 by once again facing the Toronto Argonauts. This time, the Tiger-Cats will be meeting the Argonauts at Alumni Stadium in Guelph. While this game is a continuation of the Battle for the QEW that kicked off in the first pre-season game for both teams, the more significant purpose is to give the Hamilton coaching staff one last chance to evaluate players before they make their final round of roster cuts after this game.

Several players will need to stand out in this game to have a chance to make the Hamilton 2026 roster or the practice roster. Some key areas that Hamilton will need to assess are their quarterbacks behind Bo Levi Mitchell, the evaluation of running backs to establish a hierarchy in the Hamilton running back room, and the receivers who will provide the Tiger-Cats with the highest-quality depth, especially among their Canadian wide receivers. In addition, the Tiger-Cats still have several question marks about their defensive front seven, which has several new faces.

Looking at the Tiger-Cats depth chart for this game, the Tiger-Cats starters will get very limited, if any, snaps in this game. That is because the reps in this game are gold for those players fighting for a roster spot. While some of those players may end up standing out offensively or defensively, several will need to show they can be a difference-maker on special teams to secure a spot on the Hamilton final roster.

Tiger-Cats QB Hierarchy After Bo Levi Mitchell

Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell is clearly the starting quarterback for Hamilton, but the key to sustained success in the CFL is directly related to the depth a team has at key positions. Last week, Tre Ford and Jake Dolegala both struggled to find a rhythm within the Tiger-Cats' offensive system. However, part of Ford's lack of production was due to head coach Scott Milanovich's intentional efforts to have Ford play from the pocket. Despite that, Ford did flash his dual-threat potential while scrambling a few times in the game. As for Dolegala, weather played a big role in his inability to establish a flow with the Hamilton group of wide receivers.

A Deeper Look at the Hamilton Wide Receivers Prospects

Similar to the quarterback position, the Tiger-Cats are loaded with Kenny Lawler, Kiondre Smith, and Shemar Bridges leading the way. In addition, the Tiger-Cats have added another elite target with Kurleigh Gittens Jr., but the key to sustained success is having depth at wide receiver. Part of that is the need for Hamilton to have Canadian wide receivers to make it easier to manage the ratio rule, and the other part is that those depth players at wide receiver are critical for roles on special teams and in special offensive packages.

Sorting Out the Running Back Room

A position group still in need of a clear hierarchy on the Hamilton depth chart is the running backs. Last week, Larry Rountree III had an efficient performance, but throughout the season, the Tiger-Cats will need to rotate players in at running back, no matter who the starting back is each week. Therefore, the Tiger-Cats need as many data points as possible to make sure they have a clear picture of how each running back can contribute to the Tiger-Cats offensive game plan.

Chemistry for the Hamilton Defensive Front Seven

Coming into training camp, the Tiger-Cats defensive front seven had the most question marks regarding the best mix of defensive linemen and linebackers to improve the overall performance of the Hamilton defensive front. During the 2025 season, the Tiger-Cats were exceptional at generating a pass rush and pressuring opposing quarterbacks. However, the Tiger-Cats struggled to consistently stop the run, and with linebacker Devin Veresuk leaving to pursue opportunities with the Cleveland Browns, adding more playmakers to the defensive front seven has been a point of emphasis. This week, Hamilton should get several opportunities to demonstrate their ability to stop the run game of the Argonauts.

Special Teams Execution and Contributors

For some prospects, special teams will be the golden ticket to surviving the final roster cut for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. An underestimated aspect of every successful CFL team is the ability to control field position through their special teams units. Specifically, the kick and punt coverage units are critical to Hamilton's ability to consistently win games this season. In addition, the return of kick returner and wide receiver Isaiah Wooden Sr. will be a position that could potentially be scrutinized after Mario Alford was released last week, despite returning a missed field goal for 111 yards and the Tiger-Cats' only touchdown in Hamilton's first pre-season game last week.

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