Reggie Begelton slated to make first start in return to Stampeders

Photo courtesy: Calgary Stampeders

A win on Friday can clinch a playoff spot for the Calgary Stampeders and it appears the horsemen will have some extra fire power in the lineup this week to ensure that result.

Signed during their bye week, receiver Reggie Begelton is slated to make his 2021 debut against the B.C. Lions. The one-time member of the Stamps’ impressive NFL diaspora will return to the fold after drawing the start at boundary side wide receiver.

In 33 career regular season games over three seasons with Calgary, Begelton has 149 catches for 2,335 yards and 12 touchdowns. The six-foot-two, 205-pound Begelton provides Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell with a familiar and trusted target.

The 28-year-old earned the Stamps’ nomination for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award in 2019 after becoming just the fifth player in franchise history to record at least 100 catches in a season. He finished that year second in the league with 102 receptions and third in both receiving yards with 1,444 and receiving touchdowns 10.

In January 2020, Begelton signed with the Green Bay Packers. He made his NFL debut on Monday Night Football in Week 4 of the 2020 season when the Packers beat Atlanta 30-16. That was the only game Begelton was active as he spent the rest of the schedule on the practice roster, earning $185,000 USD that year.

Since being waived by Green Bay at the end of training camp in August, Begelton has been a free agent. Recently the Buffalo Bills flew him in for a workout, but there was no immediate contract offer.

Once the Stamps season comes to an end, Begelton will be free to workout and sign with an NFL team if an offer comes his way. Right now however, he has a chance to jump start a mediocre passing attack in Calgary and extend the Stampeders playoff streak to 16 straight seasons.