Lirim Hajrullahu making Labour Day return for Toronto Argonauts

Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography

The Toronto Argonauts will have a familiar face back in the lineup for the Labour Day Classic against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Veteran kicker Lirim Hajrullahu is slated to make his return to the lineup after missing the past five games with a hamstring issue. The move comes after Toronto cut his replacement, Brady Lidster, earlier this week.

Hajrullahu was struggling at the time of his removal from the lineup. The 36-year-old had connected on 12-of-18 field goals (66.7 percent) and 18-of-20 extra-point attempts through six games. In Week 7, he missed one convert and two field goals, including the potential walk-off game-winner in a loss to Hamilton. While he was eventually placed on the six-game injured list, his absence was initially announced as non-injury-related.

The Western University product began his professional career in 2014 and has since made stops with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Argos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, and Philadelphia Stars. He returned to Toronto in 2024 and has earned consecutive East Division all-star selections, bringing his career total to four. He was named All-CFL in 2025 after making 57-of-64 field goal attempts (89.1 percent) and 32-of-33 extra points.

Joining Hajrullahu in his return to the lineup is backup Canadian defensive lineman Paris Shand, who has recovered from an oblique injury, while American defensive back Alex Teubner has been placed on the one-game injured list. Akili Arnold will replace him in a depth role, as Canadian linebacker Jalen Rayam gets demoted to the practice roster.

The Toronto Argonauts (5-6) will visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-8) at Hamilton Stadium on Monday, September 7, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EDT. Last week, the Argonauts squandered a 22-9 lead to lose to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, while the Tiger-Cats lost on a last-minute touchdown to the Calgary Stampeders.

The weather forecast in Hamilton calls for a high of 23 degrees with a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the U.S., and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in to TSN 1050 in Toronto or the Ticats Audio Network.

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