Toronto Argonauts prepare for home opener against Calgary Stampeders at BMO Field

By Liam Tremblay — 6 August 2026 — 4 min read

Argonauts Return Home

The Toronto Argonauts are set to play their first home game of the season at BMO Field on Thursday night, hosting the Calgary Stampeders. This marks a significant return for the team, which has spent the initial part of the season on the road, including playing three designated home games in other cities. The team’s quarterback, Chad Kelly, expressed enthusiasm about returning to BMO Field, highlighting the advantage of playing on grass and in front of their home fans.

Kelly returns to the starting lineup after recovering from a neck injury sustained in a road victory against the B.C. Lions on July 25. He previously missed the entire 2025 season due to a leg injury. This upcoming game will also be the first time his children can attend and watch him play. The Argonauts enter the game with a 3-4 record and are coming off a bye week, following their 26-12 win over the B.C. Lions.

Canadian linebacker Cameron Judge is also set to return to action after missing three games with a hamstring injury. Like Kelly, Judge is looking forward to playing back at BMO Field, noting the comfort of familiar territory. The team had been holding training camp and practice sessions at the University of Guelph while BMO Field hosted World Cup matches.

Matchup Details and Player Focus

The Argonauts will face a challenging opponent in the Calgary Stampeders, who hold a 4-4 record. The Stampeders previously defeated the Argonauts 58-36 at McMahon Stadium on July 2. In that game, Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 405 yards and six touchdowns. Adams Jr. leads CFL starters in touchdown passes with 21 and has not thrown an interception this season, extending a streak of 295 straight pass attempts without being picked off.

Calgary’s offence is described as a multi-attack team, leading the CFL in offensive points per game with 36.4, offensive touchdowns with 34, and passing touchdowns with 21. They are also ranked second in rushing, averaging 115.8 yards per game, with Dedrick Mills being their second-leading rusher with 628 yards. Argonauts head coach Mike Miller emphasized the need for his team to focus on details and execution against Calgary’s strong offence.

For the Argonauts, Chad Kelly has completed 162 of 230 passes for 2,323 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, though he also has nine interceptions, which ties him for the league lead. Toronto leads the CFL in passing yards per game with 365.1 and is second in net offence with 425.7 and touchdown passes with 18. The team’s defence, however, is ranked eighth in knockdowns and last in yardage per game given up, at 339.6, but sits mid-pack in interceptions with five.

Defensive and Special Teams Outlook

Despite their pass defence rankings, the Argonauts have shown an ability to generate turnovers, with cornerback Benjie Franklin having two interceptions in 2026. There is a possibility that a defensive player could break the offensive dominance in Player of the Week selections, a trend that has seen only offensive players recognized since Week 1. Linebacker Cameron Judge is identified as a potential candidate for a key defensive play, possibly an interception.

Another defensive player to watch is Saskatchewan Roughriders strong side linebacker Antoine Brooks Jr., who is fifth in the CFL in total defensive plays with 50. His statistics for 2026 include 41 defensive tackles, a forced fumble, a sack, tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery. He is considered a strong contender for a Player of the Week award, potentially adding an interception to his record.

On special teams, Montreal Alouettes returner DeVonte Dedmon is expected to have a significant impact in Week 10. After returning from an injured list, he showed glimpses of his ability with a 40-yard kickoff return and a 23-yard punt return in his first game back. The Edmonton Elks, whom the Alouettes are visiting, are ranked sixth in kick-off coverage and seventh in punt coverage, which could create opportunities for Dedmon.

The Hamilton Ticats are expected to focus on containing B.C. Lions running back Zander Horvath, who had a strong performance against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last week. The Ticats’ run defence is ranked sixth, allowing 98.8 yards per game, and their pass defence is ranked second overall. This defensive strategy might lead to the Lions incorporating trick plays, potentially involving Horvath completing a pass from a run formation.

Source: cfl.ca