After introducing themselves to CFL fans across the country with a few spectacular plays last week, Devin Veresuk and Derek Slywka deserve the spotlight on Friday night as one of the best rivalries in Canadian sports resumes in Toronto.
Veresuk, a rookie linebacker for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Slywka, a first-year starting safety for the Toronto Argonauts, are two of the compelling players to watch in the latest installment of the Golden Horseshoe showdown.
Let’s start with Veresuk, the No. 2-overall pick in the 2025 Canadian Draft out of his hometown University of Windsor Lancers. The Ticats released veteran middle linebacker Kyle Wilson (since signed by the Calgary Stampeders) prior to their third game last week because they believed Veresuk was ready for the starting role.
His debut at the top of the depth chart couldn’t have gone any better. Veresuk snared a tipped ball and went 36 yards the other way for a pick-six, the key play in the Ticats’ win over the previously undefeated Montreal Alouettes.
“I know he made mistakes, I’m sure he did. But he’s also going to make plays,” Ticats head coach Scott Milanovich said after the game. “The guy’s talented, that’s why we drafted him with the second pick. The only way for him to get better is to be out there and doing his thing. I think the best probably is yet to come for that guy.”
Along with the highlight-reel play, Veresuk made a team-high eight defensive tackles.
The pick-six, however, was storybook stuff.
“The ball just happened to magically appear in my hands,” he said. “Thank God I didn’t drop it. I looked boundary (side) and I heard one of my teammates say ‘get out of there, get out.’ So I just turned and ran, saw green grass and didn’t stop.”
With Argos quarterback Nick Arbuckle tied for the league lead with six interceptions, Veresuk, 23, may well get another chance.
Milanovich just wants to see continued improvement.
“He’s got all the tools, the size, the measurables, the commitment,” Milanovich said. “But for me, before you make comparisons (to elite players), he’s got to do it over a period of time.”
While Veresuk was somewhat on the radar as a high Canadian draft pick, Slywka truly came out of nowhere last week.
Slywka played college ball at Division III Ithaca College in upstate New York, which never will be confused with Ohio State. He was converted to receiver for a tryout with the Indianapolis Colts last summer before signing with the Argos in September and spending the rest of the year on the practice roster.
This year, he got most of his reps at receiver at camp before the Argos put him back to safety.
All Slywka, 24, did last week was pick up a fumble and race 105 yards for a touchdown before getting to his unforgettable encore.
After a blocked field goal, Slywka picked up the ball in the end zone, zigged and zagged around and ran 120 yards for a TD for the play of the year in the Argos’ first win of the year.
“He changed the game … Maybe ran 160 yards on that play,” Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said.
Considering Slywka’s clear athleticism, perhaps he could help out at receiver in a pinch. If he’s asked, you can bet he won’t hesitate.
“I grew up in a small town in Waterloo, New York (between Rochester and Syracuse) in the Finger Lakes region. I played both ways my whole life,” he said. “I’m a three-sport athlete. I take pride in my ability to adapt to things and just be a football player.
“… For me it’s by whatever means necessary. I come from a Division III school. You’re (from) a small school trying to play professional football, it’s not as done as much as you see from higher-level guys. For me, it’s always just doing whatever it takes, finding a way and just working my butt off.”
When he was named CFL commissioner in early April, Stewart Johnston said most of his first 100 days on the job would essentially be a listening tour.
Along with doing that, Johnston found time to make a move that one of his predecessors should have executed years or decades ago.
The CFL announced this week that the negotiation lists for all nine teams will be available to the public. Each team maintains a negotiation list of up to 45 players who are currently playing in other leagues, in college or are unsigned.
This move was long overdue. You can have all sorts of fun speculating when you see famous NFL or NCAA names on the list.
It’s unclear what other moves Johnston wants to make going forward, but he has repeated he is open to anything if it could help the league.
Tougher decisions are ahead, but this was a promising start.
Redblacks starting QB Dru Brown was taking first-team reps at the first practice of the week, a much-needed development for the 1-3 team.
Brown has missed the past three weeks with a hip injury, but things look good for a return Sunday in Edmonton against the 0-3 Elks.
With the Argos, Ticats and Redblacks each having one win, a loss for Ottawa against a slow-starting Edmonton team would be a significant blow in the standings.
Meanwhile, B.C. Lions starting QB Nathan Rourke also appears likely to return Saturday in Montreal after missing the past two games (both losses) with an oblique injury.
The struggling Lions (1-3) also really could use a win against a Montreal team that could be missing its starting quarterback, Davis Alexander (hamstring), for a second week in a row. The East-leading Als have a bye next week and may want to give Alexander some extra rest. Veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson is the presumed starter if Alexander doesn’t go.
Thursday, July 3: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-0) at Calgary Stampeders (2-1), 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. MT
Friday, July 4: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-2) at Toronto Argonauts (1-3), 7:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, July 5: B.C. Lions (1-3) at Montreal Alouettes (3-1), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Sunday, July 6: Ottawa Redblacks (1-3) at Edmonton Elks (0-3), 7 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. MT
