2025 CFL Season: Week 1 Game Previews & Predictions
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The start of the 2025 CFL season is here with games on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday that will give fans a first glimpse into what to expect from the year.
There were a lot of money spent on free agency and changes at key positions. The biggest storylines will surround the quarterbacks in new spots and how they perform. Teams like the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats are under pressure to improve and perform well, or coaching changes may be made.
Here are the CFL’s Week 1 game previews and predictions:
Ottawa Redblacks at Saskatchewan Roughriders Game Details
Location: Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan
Date and Time: Thursday, June 5 at 9:00 pm EST
Network: TSN, RDS2, CBS Sports Network, CFL+
Betting Odds via DraftKings: Roughriders -3.5, O/U 48.5
Injury Report
The Redblacks enter the game with seven players listed as out for the game:
Nick Mardner, WR (knee, out for the season)
Eric Starczala, OL (head)
Peter Godber, OL (hand)
Zack Pelehos, OL (foot)
Nigel Romick, DL (abdomen)
Aidan John, DL (knee)
Justin Howell, DB (foot)
Two other players on Ottawa are listed as questionable:
Deandre Lamont, DB (hamstring)
Frankie Griffin, LB (knee)
Saskatchewan has even more players not playing in the game with nine guys listed as out:
Albert Awachie, FB (hip)
Shawn Bane Jr., WR (knee)
Charbel Dabire, DL (knee)
Philippe Gagnon, OL (bicep)
Jaxon Ford, DB (hand)
Sean McEwen, OL (knee)
Tommy Nield, WR (ankle)
Brayden Noll, OL (head)
Kosi Onyeka, DB (knee)
The Roughriders have two players who are listed as questionable for the game:
Jacob Brammer, OL (back)
CJ Avery, DL (ankle)
Team Previews
Ottawa had the most significant turnaround of any CFL team last year after making the postseason for the first time since 2018. Dru Brown returns for his second season as the starter, looking to take a big leap, with many considering him one of the best quarterbacks in the league. With the defense mostly back at full strength, it should be similar to how good they started last year. Watch for Brown to put up big numbers and needs to carry this offense against the CFL’s best defense.
There’s no telling on when Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris is going to retire, but he is still playing at a high level and just needs to stay healthy for them. Head coach Corey Mace had a strong debut as Saskatchewan’s leader last year and needs to take bigger strides with the defense in year two. The Redblacks aren’t afraid to throw it so the secondary in Saskatchewan needs to play well.
Prediction: Roughriders 28, Redblacks 24
Toronto Argonauts at Montreal Alouettes Game Details
Location: Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in Montreal, Quebec
Date and Time: Friday, June 6 at 7:30 pm EST
Network: TSN, RDS, CFL+
Betting Odds via DraftKings: Alouettes -5.5, O/U 47.5
Injury Report
The Argos stayed healthy during preseason and training camp with only three players out for the game. Unfortunately, these are big injuries to be dealing with to start the season as defensive lineman Bryan Cox Jr. tore his Achilles last week and is out for the season. Starting quarterback Chad Kelly is also out with a leg injury. Wide receiver Janarion Grant will not play with an ankle injury.
Montreal has seven guys out for the game:
Mustafa Johnson, DL (knee)
Trevon Mason, DL (shoulder)
Dionte Ruffin, DB (hamstring)
Joshua Archibald, DL (hamstring)
Antonio Moultrie, DL (back)
Vincent Delisle, DB (ankle)
Stevie Scott, RB (knee)
Team Previews
Last year’s Eastern Final rematch is here with the defending Grey Cup champions Argos having to play without Kelly again and roll with Grey Cup MVP Nick Arbuckle. Running back Ka'Deem Carey’s release was a stunner, as it leaves Deonta McMahon and Miyan Williams in the backfield. The loss of Cox hurts Toronto’s defensive line, so they need to find someone to step up to pressure the quarterback.
The beginning of the Davis Alexander era starts in Montreal, where he went undefeated as the starter a season ago and no longer has to worry about Cody Fajardo taking his job. The Alouettes also had their starting running back, Walter Fletcher, released after preseason, which will put more on Alexander’s back. Losing Johnson in the game is rough, as he is expected to take a bigger step in pass rush, but Shawn Oakman could be a guy ready to fill the void.
Prediction: Alouettes 34, Argonauts 21
Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Calgary Stampeders Game Details
Location: McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta
Date and Time: Saturday, June 7 at 7:00 pm EST
Network: TSN, CFL+
Betting Odds via DraftKings: Tiger-Cats -2, O/U 52.5
Injury Report
Hamilton has six players who showed up on the injury report with five of them not having practiced this week:
Siriman Bagayogo, DB (hamstring)
Luke Brubacher, DL (shoulder)
Robert Panabaker, DB (hamstring)
Reggie Stubblefield, DB (knee)
Lawrence Woods III, DB (shoulder)
Drew Wolitarsky, WR (ankle, limited in practice on Wednesday)
Calgary has the Tiger-Cats beat with seven players on the injury report and six of them have not practiced so far:
Anton Haie, DB (shoulder)
Malik Henry, WR (knee)
Jason Janvier-Messier, DL (shoulder)
Bentlee Sanders, DB (hamstring)
Kyle Saxelid, OL (tricep)
Kaylyn St-Cyr, DB (hamstring)
Charles Wiley, DL (Achilles, limited on Tuesday and Wednesday)
Team Previews
Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell might be one of the oldest quarterbacks in the league, but he certainly looked like he was in his prime last year with one of the best statistical seasons of his career, with 5,451 passing yards and 32 touchdowns. Mitchell will be asked to do it again, this time with an exceptionally deep receiver room featuring Kenny Lawler, Shemar Bridges, and Tim White.
This is a make-or-break year for Stampeders head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson, who went all out to try to win this year. Vernon Adams takes over at quarterback, hoping the moves are enough to build a playoff team. Dickenson could be out the door quicker than the Elks ousted Chris Jones last year.
Prediction: Tiger-Cats 38, Stampeders 27
Edmonton Elks at BC Lions Game Details
Location: BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia
Date and Time: Saturday, June 7 at 10:00 pm EST
Network: TSN, CBS Sports Network, CFL+
Betting Odds via DraftKings: Lions -5.5, O/U 48.5
Injury Report
The Lions have six players who have not practiced and five who have been limited:
Adam Auclair, LB (shoulder, has not practiced)
Jarell Broxton, OL (non-football related, has not practiced)
Tre’ Crawford, DL (leg, has not practiced)
David Foucault, OL (leg, has not practiced)
Maxime Rouyer, LB (hip, has not practiced)
Josh Woods, LB (knee, has not practiced)
Terrance Ganyi, LB (hip, limited)
Marcus Moore, DL (head, limited)
Tyler Packer, OL (shoulder)
Garry Peters, LB (leg, limited)
Anu Una, OL (ankle, limited)
Edmonton’s injury report is much cleaner with only three players on it and all of them have yet to practice:
Noah Curtis, DL (knee)
Skyler Griffith, TE (knee)
Oliver Muembi, LB (Achilles)
Team Previews
The Mark Kilam era begins in Edmonton, as the team spent a considerable amount of money bringing in new talent. One thing that didn’t change was Tre Ford, who goes in as the starting quarterback with no one to threaten his job. The Elks have one of the best backfields in the CFL, with Justin Rankin and Javon Leake ready to take this number one rushing offense to the next level. Don’t sleep on the defense as the linebacking core is deep with Nick Anderson and Nyles Morgan leading the way.
BC also has a new head coach with former Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive coordinator Buck Pierce taking over a playoff team that underperformed despite spending way more than the salary cap. Pierce is tasked with making quarterback Nathan Rourke the top guy everyone was expecting a season ago. The expansive receiver room looks much different, but still had Keon Hatcher, Jevon Cottoy, and Justin McInnis to make this one of the league’s best.
