Calgary Stampeders still ‘trying to find the right fit’ for Reggie Begelton to return

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Reggie Begelton has been a full participant at practice for two consecutive weeks, but the Calgary Stampeders still aren’t ready to put him back into their starting lineup.

“This week, no. We’re just going status quo,” head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson told the media on Sunday. “We had a good week last week. We’ve got a good group of receivers. He’s working hard. He’s doing his part. It’s just trying to find the right fit.”

Begelton was carted off the field during a Week 2 win over Toronto in 2025 after suffering what was later reported to be a fractured leg. The three-time All-CFL selection had been one of Calgary’s most effective offensive weapons prior to the injury, making 427 catches for 5,660 yards and 28 touchdowns in 88 career games.

The Stampeder played coy with Begelton’s status throughout training camp, but quietly renegotiated his contract at the end of May with the understanding that a return was not imminent. Dickenson later revealed that Begelton’s injury had been more severe than the team initially thought and that he was “not that close” to being ready.

The 32-year-old drew praise from Dickenson when he first returned to individual activities in Week 5, but he was not cleared for active duty and was designated for a second stint on the six-game injured list. His participation over the past two weeks has been part of the legal practice window in order to assess readiness for return.

While he could have been activated early with no financial penalty, similar to kicker Rene Paredes, Calgary has opted to roll with their existing receiving unit.

“Every week is different, so certainly I want them all competing. Right now, our injuries have been on defence. D-line this week, we were light at linebacker before, so we’ve been trying to fix things on defence. Our offence has stayed pretty consistent,” Dickenson said. “Good to get (quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.) back. We’re still messing with our offensive line as well, because we had an injury in practice. Those are the big things. Put the best lineup we can. If your number’s called, go do your job.”

In Begelton’s absence, the Stampeders have made receiver a ratio-heavy position, with four Canadians in the starting lineup. Erik Brooks is the only American pass catcher currently listed on the gameday roster, while Tevin Jones, who was a productive starter to begin the year, has recently been relegated to the reserve roster.

Calgary will face a more serious decision about how to address the position next week, when Begelton will have officially finished his second stint on the six-game.

The Calgary Stampeders (5-6) will host the Edmonton Elks (8-3) at McMahon Stadium on Monday, September 7, with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. EDT. Last week, the Elks were on bye while the Stampeders beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats thanks to a late touchdown run from Dedrick Mills.

The weather forecast in Calgary calls for a high of 15 degrees with a chance of showers. The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the U.S., and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on 880 CHED in Edmonton or 770 CHQR in Calgary.