CFL NOTEBOOK

Trevor Harris wasn’t blindsided Sunday by the news the Edmonton Elks had traded him to the Montreal Alouettes.

Harris, 35, had been expecting it for weeks.

“I guess you could say that, yeah,” the veteran quarterback told reporters Tuesday. “I’d say over the last month or so I could kind of sense a shift.

“It’s pro football, it’s life … when we can grow through the trials and tribulations in our life, that’s when we can really start to grow as people.”

Edmonton sent Harris to Montreal for defensive end Antonio Simmons. The move came after Harris was a healthy scratch for the Elks’ 26-16 home loss to Winnipeg on Friday night as rookie Taylor Cornelius got the start with Dakota Prukop the backup.

Harris’s last action with Edmonton was in a 30-3 loss to Winnipeg on Oct. 8. He completed 9-of-22 passes for 87 yards before being replaced by Cornelius.

Edmonton (2-7) remains last in the West Division and has dropped five straight. But Harris was disappointed he wasn’t afforded the opportunity to help the Elks get back on track.

The six-foot-three, 212-pound Harris threw for 398 yards with four TD passes in Edmonton’s 32-20 Labour Day win over Calgary. The following week he finished 17-of-25 passing for 221 yards and an interception, then went on the six-game injured list with a neck ailment.

Harris missed two games – losses to Winnipeg and Ottawa – before returning to face the Blue Bombers on Oct. 8.

The situation in Edmonton unravelled quickly for Harris. Much was expected from the team given Harris and first-year head coach Jamie Elizondo were together in Ottawa (2016-18) and Elks GM Brock Sunderland spent time in the Redblacks’ front office before coming to Alberta in 2017.

“(What happened with Elks) would probably be a better question for them,” Harris said. “It didn’t end how we anticipated obviously but I have so much love for the guys in the locker room there and the honesty Brock Sunderland (had) with me.

“As a man, you can respect anybody that’s honest with you and doesn’t disrespect you and Brock Sunderland has been great with that. And for that reason I’ll always be a friend for him and I’m thankful for him giving me an opportunity.”

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CALGARY – Defensive back Tre Roberson has signed with Calgary Stampeders for a second stint with the team.

The American played 32 regular-season games for Calgary in 2018 and 2019.

He appeared in three playoff games for the Stampeders with an interception that clinched the Grey Cup for Calgary in 2018.

Roberson was a West Division and CFL all-star in 2019 before signing with the NFL’s Chicago Bears that year.

The Stampeders nominated him for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie in 2018 and Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2019.

In 32 regular-season games for Calgary, Roberson compiled 95 tackles including four tackles for loss.

He had 10 interceptions, including one for a touchdown, 18 knockdowns, two forced fumbles. Roberson returned one of his two fumble recoveries 93 yards for a touchdown.

He attended training camps with the Minnesota Vikings in 2016 and 2017 before joining Calgary.

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TORONTO – Rene Paredes of the Calgary Stampeders and Montreal Alouettes Jake Wieneke and David Menard were named the CFL’s top performers Tuesday.

Paredes was named the No. 1 performer after kicking six field goals in Calgary’s 39-10 win over the B.C. Lions. The 10-year CFL veteran also added three converts.

Wieneke was named the second performer after registering seven catches for 114 yards and a TD in Montreal’s 27-16 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks. It marked the fourth time this season Wieneke has had a 100-yard receiving game.

Menard, a defensive lineman, had two sacks and a forced fumble against Ottawa. The native of Chicoutimi, Que., has six sacks on the season, tying a career high, and with 11 tackles is just one short of his personal best.

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WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers acquired American kicker Sergio Castillo from the B.C. Lions on Tuesday for a conditional 2022 fourth-round pick.

The acquisition of Castillo addresses a huge need for Winnipeg (9-1), which has used three different kickers already this season.

Ali Mourtada, Marc Liegghio and Tyler Crapigna have combined to make just 16-of-28 field goal attempts (57.1 per cent) and 23-of-27 converts.

Castillo attended the Tennessee Titans training camp this year after appearing in seven games with the New York Jets in 2020.

Castillo made 8-of-13 field goals, including one from 55 yards, with New York.

Castillo opted out of his deal with B.C. in August 2020 after the league cancelled its plans to play due to the COVID-19 pandemic although the Lions maintained his CFL rights.

(Canadian Press)