The CFL’s deadliest passing combo and a veteran quarterback coming off a career year are the finalists for the league’s outstanding player award.
asserted
combo → come → award
Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander and Alouettes receiver Tyson Philpot, along with Edmonton Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo, were announced Wednesday as the finalists for the CFL’s George Reed Most Outstanding Player award.
asserted
Alexander → announce → award
Alexander threw for 5,257 yards and 35 TDs this season, joining Alouettes offensive co-ordinator Anthony Calvillo as the only two Montreal players to crack the 5,000-yard plateau.
asserted
Alexander → throw → plateau
Alexander also sported a 72.1 completion percentage and had a CFL-high 37 completions of 30-plus yards.
asserted
Alexander → sport → yards
Philpot, of Delta, B.C., led the CFL in catches (124), yards (1,809), 30-plus yard receptions (14) and yards after the catch (750) and was tied with teammate Tyler Snead for most TD grabs (both 13).
asserted
both → lead → grabs
Philpot also set league marks for most catches and yards in a season by a Canadian player and is a finalist for the league’s top Canadian award.
asserted
Philpot → set → award
Fajardo set career highs in passing yards (4,788) and TDs (25) in leading Edmonton (13-5) atop the West Division for the first time since 2015.
asserted
Fajardo → set → 2015
The 34-year-old quarterback also ran for 517 yards (5.7-yard average) and eight touchdowns.
asserted
quarterback → run → yards
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Linebackers Adarius Pickett of Toronto and Darnell Sankey of B.C., along with Calgary defensive lineman Clarence Hicks, were named finalists for the CFL’s top defensive player award.
asserted
Pickett → get → award
Winnipeg’s Trey Vaval is chasing a second straight outstanding special-teams honour — attempting to become the league’s first back-to-back winner — with Calgary returner Tyreik McAllister and Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard also in the running.
asserted
McAllister → chase → running
Pickett registered a CFL-leading 116 total tackles and was second overall with 103 defensive tackles (six for loss).
asserted
Pickett → register → loss
He also finished second in defensive plays (134) while adding 13 special-teams tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
asserted
He → finish → tackles
- Elks extend head coach Mark Kilam through 2029
asserted
Elks → extend → 2029
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Sankey had a league-high defensive plays (136) and defensive tackles (114, including a career-high four for a loss).
asserted
Sankey → win → loss
Sankey also recorded three sacks to tie a career best.
asserted
Sankey → record → career
Hicks led the CFL in sacks with 12, which also matched his career best.
asserted
which → lead → career
Hicks appeared in all 18 of Calgary’s regular-season games, registering 24 tackles (four for a loss), three pass knockdowns and two forced fumbles.
asserted
Hicks → appear → loss
Vaval led the CFL in total kick-return yards (2,868) in his sophomore season while averaging 13.8 yards per punt return and 24.2 yards on kickoffs.
asserted
Vaval → lead → kickoffs
Vaval scored two return TDs — an 88-yard kickoff return and a 120-yard missed field goal return.
asserted
Vaval → score → TDs
McAllister scored three return TDs this season (two missed field goals, one punt).
asserted
McAllister → score → goals
He also had a career-best 2,691 return yards.
asserted
He → have → yards
Blanchard was the CFL’s most accurate kicker (making 55-of-59 field goals, 93.2 per cent).
asserted
Blanchard → make → goals
He registered a league-record nine field goals in Edmonton’s 37-35 overtime win over Hamilton on Sept. 26 and led the CFL in scoring with 211 points.
asserted
He → register → points
The league won’t be honouring its top players at an annual awards ceremony this year.
asserted
league → honour → ceremony
Instead, the winners will learn of their accomplishment through surprise presentations that will be shared online.
asserted
that → learn → presentations
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2026.
asserted
report → publish → Press
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