CFL NOTEBOOK

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Tuesday, the football club has signed American quarterback Antonio Pipkin.

Pipkin, 27, has suited up in 27 games over his five seasons in the Canadian Football League (2017-22) with the Montreal Alouettes, Toronto Argonauts and BC Lions, completing 141 of 260 passes for 1,846 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 128 carries for 586 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns. The 6’3 225-pound native of Gary, Indiana most recently dressed in four games for the BC Lions, totalling 29 completions for 393 yards and two passing touchdowns with 43 carries for 137 yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

The Tiffin University product spent time in the National Football League with the Arizona Cardinals (2017) before heading north of the border. Pipkin played in 44 total games collegiately, registering 10,941 passing yards on 979 of 1,513 passing with 88 passing touchdowns.

The football club also announced the following player has been added to the six-game injured list:
AME—QB—Matthew Shiltz

(Ticats.ca)

MONTREAL – Alouettes receiver Austin Mack wasn’t familiar with the CFL a few months ago.

“I pull up a highlight tape of the Alouettes, and I see guys running to the line of scrimmage, motioning sideways on the line of scrimmage, and I’m just like, ‘what is going on? This is crazy,”’ said Mack of Canadian football rules, reminiscing on when he first learned of Montreal’s interest in him in April.

The product of Fort Wayne, Ind., now leads the league in receiving yards through Week 6 of the season.

A late Alouettes signing ahead of training camp, the 25-year-old rookie came in with some pedigree as an Ohio State University alumni with NFL experience, but still had to prove himself to his coaches.

Mack showed promise as a quick learner in camp and consistently made big plays in practice as the season approached.

Once it started, it took him about one minute to showcase what kind of impact he could have in the CFL _ bringing down a 61-yard first-career reception on the Alouettes’ second snap of the season.

“It was like, ‘here we go, this guy might just do it’ – and he’s been doing it consistently ever since,” said receivers coach Mike Lionello.

With 458 receiving yards on 30 receptions and two touchdowns in five games, Mack is filling a big need for the Alouettes at wide receiver.

Montreal (2-3-0) lost Eugene Lewis – last year’s East Division most outstanding player – to free agency this off-season, while starting receivers Greg Ellingson, Tyson Philpot and Reggie White Jr. all started the year on the six-game injured list.

On top of taking advantage of an opening, Mack is seizing a second opportunity north of the border after injuries interrupted his NFL career.

After four years with the Buckeyes, he had a promising start in the NFL, making four receptions for 72 yards in one game as a rookie with the New York Giants in 2020 – including a 50-yard catch from quarterback Daniel Jones.

However, the Giants released Mack the following off-season after he sustained a hamstring injury.

Mack, with stints on the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers practice squads, had been trying to get back in the league the last two years. But he kept getting released as he continued his battle with injuries.

TORONTO – Chad Kelly is having fun again playing football.

Kelly is a big reason why Toronto (4-0) is the CFL’s only unbeaten team. On Friday night, the former Ole Miss star was a tidy 21-of-25 passing for 351 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another in the Argonauts’ exciting 35-27 road win over the Montreal Alouettes.

“I’m having the most fun I’ve had since I was in Little League football, really,” Kelly said following Toronto’s practice Tuesday. “After the game (versus Montreal) I got into the locker room and it just felt like I was a little kid again outside playing football.

“Obviously, college was fun but to actually feel like your body was feeling good, everything was just meshing together and you were having fun, it was like (being) a kid. It (Canadian football) is an amazing game to play, it really is … with great coaches and great players, it makes my job (with Argos) a lot easier.”

Toronto last opened a season with four straight wins in 1983, the year the franchise ended a dismal 31-year Grey Cup drought.

Not since his final season at Ole Miss (2016) has Kelly been a starting quarterback. Following his college career, Kelly spent time in the NFL with the Denver Broncos (2017-18) and Indianapolis Colts (2019-20) before joining the Argos last year.

Kelly appeared in one game with Denver in 2018 but didn’t attempt a pass.

Kelly served as Toronto’s backup behind veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson, making his first CFL start in the club’s regular-season finale versus Montreal. But Kelly came up huge for the Argos in their upset 24-23 Grey Cup win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Replacing an injured Bethel-Thompson (dislocated right thumb) in the fourth quarter, Kelly completed four-of-six passes for 43 yards. But it was Kelly’s crucial 20-yard run on second-and-15 that set up A.J. Ouellette’s game-winning five-yard rushing TD.

Kelly became Toronto’s full-time starter when Bethel-Thompson signed with the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers in the off-season.

Kelly, the nephew of former Buffalo Bills star Jim Kelly, has completed 71-of-100 passes this season for 1,102 yards with five TDs and three interceptions. He has also run 15 times for 87 yards and four touchdowns.

“Obviously three picks, we want to clean that up,” Kelly said. “I think the biggest thing is just getting more comfortable each and every game … the more you play the more comfortable you get, for sure.

“I think as a group we’re jelling together, but it’s still early in the season. There’s a lot more work to be done but at least every day everybody is coming out with an attitude and will to want to get better.”

With Kelly under centre, Toronto leads the CFL in offensive points (34 per game), net offence (401 yards) and rushing (134 yards) while standing second in offensive TDs (15). The Argos are ranked fourth in passing (275.5 yards per game) but first overall in average gain per pass (10.9 yards) and passing efficiency (110.3).