We’re only two weeks into a new season and we’ve already seen some standout defensive performances.

That includes reigning Most Outstanding Defensive Player Mathieu Betts and last year’s runner-up Julian Howsare. Betts was a beast as BC opened their season in Week 2, recording a sack, a forced fumble, and three defensive tackles in a tight loss to the Riders. Howsare, on the other hand, is already up to two sacks and five defensive tackles to help Hamilton to a 1-1 start.

But last season’s hardware winners aren’t the only defensive players who have made their mark early on in 2026. Here are four others who have been turning heads through the first two weeks of the 2026 season.

RELATED » AMSOIL Power Rankings: Who leads the race? » Prediction Time: CFL.ca writers’ Week 3 picks » Weekly Predictor: Who wins in Week 3? » Buy tickets for the 2026 CFL season » Subscribe to the CFL’s newsletter for exclusive offers and league updates

TONY JONES | LINEBACKER | WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Winnipeg linebacker Tony Jones has picked up where he left off in 2025, leading the CFL with 15 defensive........

© CFL