DB Wall, RB Bellamy among Stampeders' final roster cuts ahead of season-opener (2024)

The biggest surprise was seeing defensive back Titus Wall dropped.

But otherwise, the Calgary Stampeders didn’t have any bombshells when they announced their end-of-training camp cuts on Saturday.

Were there a few debates? Sure. Seeing running back LeVante Bellamy’s name on the list of guys who won’t be on the roster when the Stamps formally begin their preparations for the 2024 regular season will be something that hardcore fans want to talk about.

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But there wasn’t a big name like offensive lineman Derek Dennis being released, the way we saw at this time last year.

There were, however, a few surprising names.

Wall is top of the list.

He started his CFL career as one of the Stamps’ shining stars in 2022 and was on track to compete for the league’s Most Outstanding Rookie award before an injury derailed his first year north of the border. Wall remained a part of the Stamps’ plans last season and he appeared in 11 games while picking up 56 tackles.

Brad Muhammad was also released on Saturday. He had been an option both in the defensive backfield and as a returner.

There are a few peculiarities when it comes to the way the Stamps are constructed this year.

They are carrying five quarterbacks on their active and practice rosters, for example. The team didn’t release any of the QBs they had at training camp, although it’s unlikely that that is a situation that they continue with for a long time this season.

There will be some eyebrows raised at the release of Canadian receiver Colton Hunchak, but it’s worth remembering that he was only signed mid-week in the final couple days of training camp. He remains an option for the team to re-sign and bring back on an emergency basis this year.

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But by and large, the team looks a lot like what even most casual fans would have expected throughout training camp. Cameron Echols-Luper earned a spot on the active roster after a spectacular training camp and an injury to fellow wide receiver Malik Henry.

There were few surprises otherwise, although the release of Bellamy will be a source of debate, especially if somebody other than fellow RB Peyton Logan earns the starting spot at returner on special teams.

The Stamps are a young team that is built to compete immediately, though. They kept the core of both their offences and defences together and there are few unexpected changes coming out of training camp heading into the season-opener against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday (7 p.m.) at McMahon Stadium.

daustin@postmedia.com

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