GAME ESSENTIALS

Redblacks vs. Argonauts

This is the first of the season’s three matchups between these teams, the results of which will significantly affect the East Division playoff race. Even without Ricky Ray because of a continuing recovery from shoulder surgery, the Argos (5-2) continue to thrive with Trevor Harris at quarterback. Meanwhile, will we see the good Redblacks or those who got pummelled by the Stampeders last week? Kickoff: Sunday, 4 p.m., Rogers Centre, Toronto. Watch it: TSN. Hear it: TSN 1200 AM, SiriusXM 167 (English).

Redblacks’ last game: 48-3 road loss against Calgary Stampeders. Argonauts’ last game: 27-20 road victory against Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Players to watch Redblacks: Aston Whiteside — Released by the Argos at the end of training camp, he has so far been exactly the pass-rushing threat the Redblacks needed him to be, collecting five quarterback sacks in three games.

Argonauts: A.J. Jefferson — The 27-year-old Argos cornerback scored one touchdown on a 100-yard interception return against Saskatchewan and another on a 70-yard punt return against Winnipeg, but he also got burned on an onside punt for a touchdown by Hamilton.

Something you didn’t know Jacques Washington: The 24-year-old Redblacks defensive back from Oklahoma laughs about his “welcome to Ottawa” moment in June. He dropped his cellphone while getting out of a taxi on Bronson Avenue, returned to the spot 10 minutes later and found his cellphone in the middle of the road, undamaged. He quickly tweeted thanks to the good citizens of the region. “I appreciate the people of Ottawa for not running over my phone, I really do,” Washington says. “It’s tough to get a new American phone in Canada, so that would have been a situation.”