It seemed like the longest off-season ever.
After a bye week to conclude the 2025 season, no playoff games, and a Week One bye this year, the Toronto Argonauts will finally play a game on Friday in Montreal, 237 days after last year’s finale in Calgary.
With some questions yet to be answered about how things will line up on Friday, here are your 2026 Toronto Argonauts.
Quarterbacks (3):
Back after missing all of 2025 recovering from a leg injury, Chad Kelly looked like his old self throughout training camp and is the team’s starter. He’s a couple of seasons removed from being named the league’s Most Outstanding Player. Nick Arbuckle gives the team a quality backup and will be ready to go if needed, while Tucker Horn enters his second year in Toronto and will be QB3.
Running Backs (6):
The position will be manned by four rookies to start the season. Sam Hicks scored a touchdown in each pre-season game and is a quick back with good hands out of the backfield. Qualan Jones is more of a downhill runner at 242 pounds, while second-round draft pick Isaiah Smith is a hybrid of the two, possessing speed while checking in at 230 pounds. Also making the team is Weagbe Mombo, an eighth-round draft pick (67th overall) who was added to the practice roster the day final cuts were announced.
One of the more interesting stories in camp was the transformation of Jack Cassar from linebacker to fullback/tight end. He’ll bring a great deal of physicality to the position. Cassar will be joined by Sebastian Parsalidis, who was selected immediately after Mombo, 68th overall, in this year’s draft.
Receivers (12):
The Argos have made a change in their ratio at this position. The club will move from a 3 Canadians/2 Americans starting group to 3 Americans/2 Canadians quintet, with all five projected starters being returnees.
The homegrown pair will be Dave Ungerer III and Kevin Mital, who last year shared the CFL lead for most catches with 105. They’ll be joined by Damonte Coxie, Makai Polk, and Jake Herslow. It gives the Argos a solid starting corps.
Janarion Grant returns and will be joined on the active roster by Dymere Miller. Fourth-round draft pick Nolan Ulm made the team but will begin the season on the injured list after hurting his arm in the pre-season game in Hamilton.
Tyler Kahmann returns after spending last season on the practice roster. Solomon Davis, Canadian Tristan Ready, and Global Michael Buckley are all on the practice roster to begin the season.
Offensive Line (10):
The interior three starters are all Canadians and stayed intact throughout camp; with Ryan Hunter and Dakoda Shepley at guard, and Peter Nicastro at center.
Tackles Brandon Kemp on the left and rookie Desmond Bland on the right were the starters for the final two weeks of training camp, but the team signed Kendall Randolph, a surprise final cut by Winnipeg. He started all 18 games with the Bombers last year and is obviously in the mix for a starting job.
Rookie Gavin Coakes, a 2025 draft pick, was also named to the active roster at the conclusion of camp.
Reimer Rush is the other American tackle on the practice roster, while the Canadian linemen are returnee Anim Dankwah, along with recently signed Domenico Piazza.
Defensive Line (11):
The Argos will have at least one Canadian position in the starting group. Free agent Jonathan Kongbo and 2025 first-round pick Jeremiah Ojo will man one end position, while rookie Paris Shand, the team’s second-round pick last year, can line up at end or tackle.
Last year’s Argo sack leader, Andrew Chatfield Jr., will start on the other end, with Da’Marcus Johnson also in the rotation.
Ralph Holley is back after a stint in the NFL and will start at tackle. Free-agent Dewayne Hendrix, along with rookies Jalen Bell and Soane Toia will be in the rotation as well.
Jason Compoh and Global Denzel Daxon will begin the season on the practice roster.
Linebackers (8):
The starting trio of Cameron Judge on the weak side, Isaac Darkangelo in the middle, and Adarius Pickett on the strong side arguably gives the Argos the best starting trio in the CFL.
Veterans Derek Slywka, who can also line up at safety, special teams ace Brian Harelimana, along with rookies Owen Goss, and third-round draft pick Darius McKenzie complete the active roster.
James Neal will begin the season on the P.R.
Defensive Backs (10):
This is a veteran group featuring Benjie Franklin, Tarvarus McFadden, Robert Priester, and DaShaun Amos as projected starters.
The surprise retirement of Enock Makonzo leaves the Argos with a question mark at safety, which at some point may be answered by second-round pick (16th overall) Ethan John.
Other DBs on the active roster include James Ceasar and third-round draft pick L-P Gauthier, who had a stellar training camp.
Anthony Wilson and Alexander Teubner, along with recently signed Dathan Hickey, will begin the year on the practice roster.
Special Teams (4):
The trio of kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, punter John Haggerty, and long snapper Adam Guillemette return for their third season together as specialists.
Rookie Reed Martin, who can punt and placekick, is on the P.R.
Janarion Grant, a year removed from being named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player, is also back in Double Blue.