3DownNation CFL awards: the best and worst of Week 10

Montreal Alouettes

Week 10 in the Canadian Football League came to a close on Saturday night. Before we get into Week 11, let’s take a quick look back to recognize the best and worst performances from games around the league.

These awards are selected by 3DownNation’s contributors and will be presented weekly throughout the 2026 season. Enjoy.

Offensive player of the week: REC Tyson Philpot, Montreal Alouettes

The 26-year-old has been on a tear all season long, and it continued in Montreal’s dominant win over the Edmonton Elks. Philpot made 10 catches for 131 yards and three touchdowns, improving his league-leading season-long totals to 74 receptions for 1,154 yards, and seven touchdowns. If the season ended today, it would be hard to argue against Philpot winning Most Outstanding Player — unless, of course, the award went to his teammate and quarterback Davis Alexander.

Honourable mention: QB Davis Alexander, Montreal Alouettes

Defensive player of the week: LB Tyrice Beverette, Montreal Alouettes

The two-time All-CFL selection made two defensive tackles and a brilliant interception on Cody Fajardo, dropping from his spot at weak-side linebacker to pick off a deep pass intended for Austin Mack. Beverette now has 26 defensive tackles, two sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble through eight regular-season games. The Alouettes did an excellent job against Edmonton’s formidable offence, limiting the attack to 6.7 yards per play and holding Justin Rankin to 62 yards from scrimmage.

Honourable mention: DB Anthony Johnson, Calgary Stampeders

Special teams player of the week: KR Isaiah Wooden Sr., Hamilton Tiger-Cats

The 26-year-old speedster consistently provided field position for the Tiger-Cats in Vancouver, bringing back six punts for 115 yards and four kickoffs for 90 yards. Though he didn’t break any returns for touchdowns, Wooden Sr. helped make life easier for Harrison Frost in his first career CFL start under centre, the value of which can’t be understated. The veteran returner now ranks second league-wide in punt return average (min. 10 attempts).

Honourable mention: KR Janarion Grant, Toronto Argonauts

Breakout player of the week: QB Harrison Frost, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

The six-foot-one, 194-pound passer completed 20-of-33 pass attempts for 239 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in his team’s 27-24 loss to the B.C. Lions. Though it wasn’t a dominant performance, it was arguably the best Hamilton has had under centre since Bo Levi Mitchell suffered what was likely a season-ending ankle injury in July. Frost needs to continue to develop but it appears the 27-year-old has all the tools he needs to continue leading this offence.

Honourable mention: REC Dylan Djete, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Offensive line of the week: Montreal Alouettes

This marks the third-straight week that the unit of Nick Callender, Pier-Olivier Lestage, Cyrille Hogan-Saindon, Donald Ventrelli, and Tiger Shanks has won this award. Montreal’s offensive line was stellar against Edmonton, allowing zero sacks and helping Travis Theis record his third 100-yard rushing game of the season. The Alouettes have been deadly on offence for most of this year and the play of their offensive line has been a key part of that success.

Honourable mention: Saskatchewan Roughriders

Coach of the week: DC Noel Thorpe, Montreal Alouettes

Montreal’s defence played well on Saturday, which was particularly impressive as the Alouettes were without four starters. Mustafa Johnson, Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, Najee Murray, and Wesley Sutton were each unable to play, forcing Thorpe to work four new starters into the lineup. The Elks may have put up 30 points, but one of those touchdowns occurred after a turnover deep in Montreal territory and the other came with one minute left in the game after both teams had pulled some starters.

Honourable mention: OC Anthony Calvillo, Montreal Alouettes

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?!

Davis Alexander (@chavisdavis7) airs it out to Tyson Philpot (@Tysonphilpot), who makes an unreal catch for his third touchdown!#CFL #AlsMTL #Alouettes pic.twitter.com/fmkjwFVP3L

— 3DownNation (@3DownNation) August 8, 2026

Best play of the week: Tyson Philpot’s third touchdown catch

This was an unbelievable play from the Alouettes and it iced their win over Edmonton. Davis Alexander waited patiently behind his offensive line, then delivered a perfect 56-yard deep shot for the touchdown. Philpot drew double coverage from Kordell Jackson and Kobe Williams but made a beautiful last-second adjustment to bring the ball down. Jackson tried swatting the pass away but was a split-second too early, which allowed Philpot to make the catch. This was simply sensational.

Honourable mention: Ben Labrosse’s interception

Oh, what could have been?

Shadwel Nkuba II (@shadweljr) lets a game-changing interception slip through his fingers!#CFL #Redblacks #RNation pic.twitter.com/4THQAAklYX

— 3DownNation (@3DownNation) August 8, 2026

Worst play of the week: Shadwel Nkuba II’s dropped interception

The 24-year-old will be haunted by this play for a while. In his first career CFL start, Nkuba II jumped a route intended for Dhel Duncan-Busby with nothing but open field in front of him. Instead of recording a 108-yard pick-six, the native of Lewisville, Texas bobbled the ball multiple times before letting it hit the ground. The play happened moments before halftime with the game still close, though it blew open in the second half as the Roughriders dominated. Had Nkuba II made the interception, things might have ended differently.

Honourable mention: TJ Luther’s dropped touchdown pass

Best game of the week: Calgary Stampeders at Toronto Argonauts

This was a sloppy performance from two of the CFL’s best quarterbacks, as Vernon Adams Jr. and Chad Kelly combined for one touchdown pass and six interceptions. With that said, it also featured five lead changes, a return touchdown from Janarion Grant, a sensational late-game tackle from Bubba Bolden, and a game-winning field goal from rookie kicker Brady Lidster. This felt like the best game of a relatively weak bunch in Week 10.

Honourable mention: Edmonton Elks at Montreal Alouettes

Worst game of the week: Ottawa Redblacks at Saskatchewan Roughriders

If quarterback power is your favourite football play, you probably loved watching Tommy Stevens rip off three touchdown runs in the fourth quarter. However, the rest of this game was far from a classic. Both offences sputtered in the first half, then the Roughriders dominated the second half to win 42-20. It was impressive how Trevor Harris moved the ball at times without Kian Schaffer-Baker and Samuel Emilus in the lineup, but it felt like the Roughriders were playing down to a winless Ottawa team at times.

Honourable mention: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at B.C. Lions