Seven out of the 21 weeks on the CFL calendar have come and gone, so it’s time to check in on the quarterbacks across the league.
There’s been some truly remarkable play, some unfortunate injuries, and everything else in between north of the border.
Here’s a snapshot of every team’s quarterback situation through a third of the season.
BC Lions (1-4)
Beginning in the West Division with the Lions, where a poor start to the season got even worse in Week 7.
On the second offensive snap in the team’s 19-17 loss to the Edmonton Elks, reigning Most Outstanding Player and Canadian Nathan Rourke suffered a non-throwing shoulder injury after being taken down for a sack. According to TSN’s Farhan Lalji, it will keep the 28-year-old out for multiple weeks.
Stepping in to replace Rourke was fourth-year backup Chase Brice. The 28-year-old went 20-of-34 for 226 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions in relief.
While it was a less-than-ideal showing for Brice, he was thrown into a tough situation and had only made seven scattered appearances for the Lions before last week. A full week of preparation as the starter will certainly help his and BC’s offensive outlook moving forward.
As for other options while Rourke is on the shelf, former Colorado pivot and rookie Kaidon Salter is the only other quarterback on the Lions’ roster, so an addition could be coming.
Calgary Stampeders (2-4)
Despite the team’s 2-4 start to 2026, Vernon Adams Jr. has had one heck of a start.
On the season, the 33-year-old has completed 65.4 per cent of his passes for 1,670 yards, a league-leading 17 touchdowns, and a remarkable zero interceptions.
Adams has etched his name into record books already, as that 17-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio has tied former pivot Ricky Ray for the league’s all-time longest touchdown streak without an interception to start a season.
Adams also tied the Stampeders’ single-game passing touchdown record (six) in the team’s Stampede Bowl win over the Toronto Argonauts in Week 5.
Adams’ numbers are on pace to well surpass his best season in 2023, when he was in the MOP conversation, as he’s done about everything he can in 2026 thus far.
Edmonton Elks (5-1)
One of the best stories of the early portion of 2026 has been the Elks’ best start to a season in recent memory, and Cody Fajardo is a huge reason for the franchise’s turnaround.
It was no secret that things improved last season after Fajardo got inserted into the starting lineup, guiding Edmonton to a 6-7 record to finish the season after a 1-4 start. Fajardo added more than 65 yards through the air and over 20 net offensive yards per game in his starts and has carried that momentum into 2026.
The 34-year-old has completed 70.0 per cent of his passes for 1,781 yards (third), nine touchdowns, and only four interceptions, as his toughness and ability to limit turnovers have been on full display.
Edmonton’s QB room also features Taylor Powell, who was brought in through free agency and has shown flashes in the past with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1)
It’s been the same old efficient offence for the Roughriders in 2026 after their Grey Cup win in 2025, with veteran Trevor Harris pulling the strings.
The 40-year-old leads the league in completion percentage among qualified quarterbacks (71.9) and is third in efficiency rating (115.4) to go along with 1,629 yards and a 12-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
With a three-headed monster of receivers and a star-studded offensive line around him, there’s no reason to think Harris can’t continue to produce.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-2)
Winnipeg’s quarterback situation has been one of, if not the most fascinating north of the border.
Veteran Zach Collaros began the year as the team’s starter before suffering a neck injury in the team’s 14-13 Week 5 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The 37-year-old was then ruled out for the Bombers’ Week 6 and Week 7 contests before being placed on the six-game injured list.
While it was Canadian rookie Taylor Elgersma taking over for Collaros in Week 5, it’s been the newly acquired Dru Brown who has started and won the last two games for Winnipeg.
The 29-year-old has completed 70.3 per cent of his passes for 656 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception so far, and seems primed to continue to take the reins at quarterback with Elgersma and former UFL MVP Bryce Perkins behind him.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-3)
Now to the East Division, where Hamilton’s quarterback room has been in chaos after the unfortunate, potentially season-ending injury to back-to-back MOP runner-up Bo Levi Mitchell.
When Mitchell went down in the team’s Week 5 loss, both backups Jake Dolegala and Canadian Tre Ford saw action, with Dolegala getting the start and loss in Week 6 and Ford getting the start and win in Week 7.
The 28-year-old national had an extremely positive outing in Hamilton’s 24-23 victory last week, completing 77.8 per cent of his passes for 218 yards and one touchdown, while adding 109 rushing yards along the ground.
It remains to be seen how it all shakes out as the team also brought in American pivots Jarret Doege and Harrison Frost, but Ford put together a solid performance and got the Tiger-Cats the win in Week 7.
Montreal Alouettes (5-1)
The Alouettes are arguably the best team in the CFL right now, and that’s largely because they arguably have the best pivot north of the border in Davis Alexander.
While continuing to battle a hamstring injury that head coach Jason Maas stated would affect Alexander for the rest of his career, he has the Alouettes firmly atop the East and himself firmly in the Most Outstanding Player conversation.
The 27-year-old is among the league leaders in many categories with his 2,181 passing yards (first), 71.3 completion percentage, 11 touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Dustin Crum and Anthony Brown Jr. are on the roster should Alexander’s hamstring act up, but if he’s healthy, there’s no question that he and the Alouettes are elite.
Ottawa Redblacks (0-6)
Much has been made of the Redblacks’ quarterback situation in 2026.
Head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie named Jake Maier his Week 1 starter over Dru Brown, who had been the starter for the past two seasons, leading to Brown requesting a trade out of the nation’s capital and the team signing McLeod Bethel-Thompson instead (Bryson Barnes is also on the roster and handles short-yardage duties).
Despite an 0-6 start to the Maier/Dinwiddie era, the offence continues to improve every week, with Maier finishing with a 75.0 completion percentage, 344 yards, and one touchdown in the team’s narrow Week 7 loss to the Blue Bombers.
Ottawa has lost four games by one score, and whether it’s Maier or an eventual swap to Bethel-Thompson or Barnes, the wins should eventually be coming.
Toronto Argonauts (2-4)
While Toronto’s quarterback situation has been in flux over the past two seasons due to Chad Kelly’s suspension and a broken leg, the room has been stable in 2026, as he is healthy again and slinging it.
The 32-year-old sits second in passing yards (2,126) and second in touchdowns (15), but leads the league in interceptions (nine). While the turnovers certainly need to be cleaned up, Kelly has Toronto’s offence operating at one of the highest clips north of the border.
Also on the roster are 2024 Grey Cup MVP Nick Arbuckle and second-year arm Tucker Horn, who are waiting in the wings should Kelly miss time, which has happened in both seasons since his 2023 MOP campaign.
