(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HQ5aaq1XsAAiW6n?format=jpg&name=medium)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HQ55tPbXsAAHtXc?format=jpg&name=large)
Ottawa Redblacks make nine roster changes against B.C. Lions
by 3Down Staff August 29, 2026
The Ottawa Redblacks have made nine changes to their roster ahead of Sunday's game against the B.C. Lions. The team released its official depth chart on Saturday.
Two changes to the starting lineup have come along the offensive line, as Samuel Carson will start at right guard and Julian Pearl will start at right tackle.
Carson, the team's second-round pick in the 2025 CFL Draft, will be making his second start of the season. The native of Calgary, Alta., also made four starts last year. Giordano Vaccaro, the first overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft and the team's previous starter at right guard, has been placed on the six-game injured list with a shoulder injury he sustained last week.
Pearl made two previous starts this year, though he spent the past two weeks on the one-game injured list. Zachary Barlev, who started in Pearl's place, has remained on the active roster and is listed as the backup behind Carson.
Ottawa has also made three changes to the starting lineup along the defensive line, with Sione Teuhema, Norell Pollard, and Jessie Evans getting into the No. 1 unit.
Teuhema, a longtime member of the Lions, made his Redblacks debut last week and recorded five defensive tackles in a depth role.
Pollard joined Ottawa earlier this month after attending training camp with the Calgary Stampeders. The six-foot-one, 280-pound defender spent parts of the 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Washington Commanders, though he didn't see any regular-season action. He played 59 collegiate games at Virginia Tech, where he tallied 119 tackles and 12 sacks.
Evans has dressed for three games in a depth role with the Redblacks, recording one defensive tackle. The six-foot-two, 251-pound defender played 25 collegiate games at Louisiana Tech, where he made 72 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and one pass knockdown.
A slew of defensive linemen have been taken off the roster, including Dennis Briggs Jr., Luiji Vilain, Daniel Okpoko, and Aidan John. Briggs Jr. (ribs) and Okpoko (arm/neck) have been placed on the six-game injured list, while Vilain (knee) has hit the one-game injured list, and John is on the reserve roster.
Nyles Morgan has returned from injury to start at middle linebacker. The 30-year-old has made 42 defensive tackles and one sack over six starts at middle linebacker this season.
Aaron Casey, who will dress in a depth role behind Morgan, has also been added to the active roster after spending two weeks on the one-game injured list. K.J. Cloyd, who started last week, has been moved to the practice roster.
Benny Sapp III will start at field-side halfback after recording eight defensive tackles in his Redblacks debut. King Ambers, who started there last week, has been moved to field-side cornerback.
Five other Canadian players have been moved to the active roster in depth roles, including fullback Emeric Boutin, receiver Ethan Jordan, defensive lineman Philippe Lemieux-Cardinal, linebacker Daniel Kwamou, and defensive back Scott Hutter.
Running back Mario Anderson Jr. and defensive back Christian Matthew have been moved to the practice roster, while Canadian linebacker A.J. Allen (hip) has been placed on the six-game injured list.
This will be the first of two meetings between the Redblacks and Lions this season. Ottawa has lost 16 consecutive games dating back to last season.
The Ottawa Redblacks (0-10) will host the B.C. Lions (4-5) at TD Place Stadium on Sunday, August 30, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EDT. The Lions are coming off a 30-16 win over Saskatchewan, while the Redblacks were blown out by the Montreal Alouettes.
The weather forecast in Ottawa calls for 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 United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on 730 CKNW (English) or Sher-E-Punjab Radio AM 600 (Punjabi) in Vancouver or TSN 1200 in Ottawa.
https://3downnation.com/2026/08/29/ottawa-redblacks-make-nine-roster-changes-against-b-c-lions/
Garry Peters officially in for B.C. Lions, Ronald Kent Jr. out against Ottawa
by 3Down Staff August 29, 2026
The B.C. Lions will have a familiar face back in the secondary when they face the Ottawa Redblacks on Sunday.
Veteran cornerback Garry Peters will officially make his return after missing the entirety of the season thus far with a nagging knee injury. In an exclusive interview with 3DownNation on Friday, the 34-year-old revealed that the issue stemmed from his knee "catching" and that he now feels back to normal.
Peters is eighth in the Lions' all-time record book for defensive tackles. In 139 career CFL games, he has produced 440 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles, two sacks, 19 interceptions, and three forced fumbles, while twice being named All-CFL.
The return is facilitated by the absence of halfback Ronald Kent Jr., who has been placed on the reserve roster after battling a hip injury this week. The 26-year-old has appeared in all 10 games this season, making 23 defensive tackles and recording one interception.
C.J. Coldon will take over at field half, ceding his field corner position to Peters, who has more commonly played to the boundary. By placing Kent on the reserve roster rather than the injured list, the Lions are still able to activate him if Peters suffers a last-second setback.
B.C. will make no other changes to their lineup this week. Canadian receiver Nick Cenacle will remain in the other reserve roster slot, while Canadian fullback Jacob Bond, American defensive tackle Jonah Tavai, and American offensive lineman Brandon Yates are all on the one-game injured list.
The B.C. Lions (4-5) will visit the Ottawa Redblacks (0-10) at TD Place Stadium on Sunday, August 30, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EDT. The Lions are coming off a 30-16 win over Saskatchewan, while the Redblacks were blown out by the Montreal Alouettes.
The weather forecast in Ottawa calls for 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 United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on 730 CKNW (English) or Sher-E-Punjab Radio AM 600 (Punjabi) in Vancouver or TSN 1200 in Ottawa.
https://3downnation.com/2026/08/29/garry-peters-officially-in-for-b-c-lions-ronald-kent-jr-out-against-ottawa/
Will be cheering for the Redblacks. Don't tell my friends in Vancouver. lol
Dinwiddie still refuses to admit he was wrong and start another QB. It's quite astounding. Does that make him more stubborn than Dickenson The Greater? When Maier started to lose every single game even DTG benched him.
It's not necessarily that MBT is better -- but at least he's different, and that might give the team hope & a spark. That's what they need, not just Maier performing better. Half the problem is now in their heads.
They are going to break some 80 year old CFL records soon. Surely they will luck into winning one. The question is, which one. I'm not sure any team in modern era has lost the first 12-15 games. In other words, games before garbage season. Everyone wins at least one meaningful game. To lose all the way until they face a locked-it-up MTL team or something is surely impossible, statistically/historically speaking.
The funny thing is they aren't THAT bad! EDM a couple of years back, before Rankin started doing well and before Cody took over, looked way worse, and even they won games. Remember their "we guarantee we will win or you get free tickets until we do" thing?
Not much chance the Redblacks defeat the Lions but there is a chance. A Lions win drops us to 4th place and a tough schedule ahead.
I think we really need to win the series against the Riders to keep playoff hopes alive.
Quote from: Tecno on August 30, 2026, 11:31:14 AMDinwiddie still refuses to admit he was wrong and start another QB. It's quite astounding. Does that make him more stubborn than Dickenson The Greater? When Maier started to lose every single game even DTG benched him.
It's not necessarily that MBT is better -- but at least he's different, and that might give the team hope & a spark. That's what they need, not just Maier performing better. Half the problem is now in their heads.
They are going to break some 80 year old CFL records soon. Surely they will luck into winning one. The question is, which one. I'm not sure any team in modern era has lost the first 12-15 games. In other words, games before garbage season. Everyone wins at least one meaningful game. To lose all the way until they face a locked-it-up MTL team or something is surely impossible, statistically/historically speaking.
The funny thing is they aren't THAT bad! EDM a couple of years back, before Rankin started doing well and before Cody took over, looked way worse, and even they won games. Remember their "we guarantee we will win or you get free tickets until we do" thing?
Not a Dinwiddie fan, but there's no upside to starting MBT. He's just there in case of injury.
Ottawa could potentially beat the Ti cats, or even the Stamps with their backup Qb in, that game yesterday was ugly.
My god Maier is terrible.
Almost as bad as Dimwiddie.
Sad for RBs.
RBs DBs are leaving guys open all over the place early on.
What a pathetic team....can't convert a 3rd and goal from the one! Maier is lucky he hasn't been picked....he's just a lousy QB
Lions will now steamroll them....even after 2 bad picks they're still ahead....Rourke maybe made some mistakes but he more than makes up for them....Ottawa is hopeless taking penalty after penalty and giving Rourke another shot of scoring. They just had to sub him out for 3 plays so let's see what Salter can do....first down on Salters first play.
Ottawa continues to shoot themselves in the foot with penalties and poor play calling. 3rd and goal from the 1 yards line. Who does that?
O'Rourke should be cleared to play but you never know what concussion protocol decides. He did go into the tent for evaluation.
Dinwiddie sure seems stubborn. Interesting stat that all qb's prior to this setting that were 0-10 to start the season won their 11th game. Not looking good for Ottawa unless they switch it up for 2nd half.
Stegall calling the migration of Kelly to Ottawa for next year is interesting - that could save Dinwiddie and buy him into next season.
Yeah Ottawa is really bad however they have 16 starters on the 6 game injury reserve list! I think that's unprecedented! I believe the majority of them are on defence. Lions playing pitch and catch now. The thing with Ottawa is that they stay close or even lead until,the 4th quarter where they fall apart. BC now up 2 scores and over 10 minutes left.....they most likely will pad their lead....Jim Pop has his work cut out for him!
Quote from: Big Daddy on August 31, 2026, 12:47:41 AMDinwiddie sure seems stubborn. Interesting stat that all qb's prior to this setting that were 0-10 to start the season won their 11th game. Not looking good for Ottawa unless they switch it up for 2nd half.
Stegall calling the migration of Kelly to Ottawa for next year is interesting - that could save Dinwiddie and buy him into next season.
Stegall certainly isn't the first to throw that thought out there. Seems inevitable.
Horvath is a beast....127 combined yards rushing and receiving plus two TDs on the ground. He also is their short yardage QB option. He's on pace right now to break milt Stegall's record of 23 TDs in a season! Hes got 3 TDs tonight and they're third and goal at the one and a half....AND.....they're gambling with Horvath lining up as short yardage QB....he now has 4 TDs on the night timing Butlers record of 4 in one game! I think he gets the game ball!!
Quote from: Lincoln Locomotive on August 31, 2026, 12:27:06 AMLions will now steamroll them....even after 2 bad picks they're still ahead....Rourke maybe made some mistakes but he more than makes up for them....Ottawa is hopeless taking penalty after penalty and giving Rourke another shot of scoring. They just had to sub him out for 3 plays so let's see what Salter can do....first down on Salters first play.
Repeatedly taking undisciplined penalties needs to be addressed. The lack of discipline tells me the players have given up, thinking what the heck we're going to lose so I'll take this penalty to get some revenge...ya can't do that. Easier said than done when you're 0-11, but man, they have got to stop doing avoidable things that compromise their chances of winning.
Quote from: Jesse on August 31, 2026, 01:42:21 AMStegall certainly isn't the first to throw that thought out there. Seems inevitable.
I can easily see that happening. Mike Miller doesn't look like he's a players coach, seems old school and out of touch with this players. Dinwiddie and Kelly were tight in Toronto, and Chad Kelly would turn things around in Ottawa
Quote from: Big Daddy on August 31, 2026, 12:47:41 AMDinwiddie sure seems stubborn. Interesting stat that all qb's prior to this setting that were 0-10 to start the season won their 11th game. Not looking good for Ottawa unless they switch it up for 2nd half.
TSN got that one wrong. Herring & Calvillo ended the season at 0-10.
Quote from: CFL Game Notes0-11 Start – Never Before: A loss to BC would put Jake Maier (0-10) on the wrong side of history as no quarterback has ever lost 11 starts in a row to begin a season. He is the 4th quarterback to start a season 0-10 after George Herring (BC, 1958), Condredge Holloway (TOR, 1981) and Anthony Calvillo (HAM, 1997). Calvillo and Herring both finished 0-10, while Holloway won his next start and
finished the year 2-12.
Fact check: Condredge Holloway went 0-9 and won his next game. He finished the season with a 2-11 record. The CFL is giving Holloway credit for a Dan Manucci start on September 19, 1981.
Quote from: Jesse on August 30, 2026, 03:44:25 PMNot a Dinwiddie fan, but there's no upside to starting MBT. He's just there in case of injury.
MBT got TOR to the GC basically on his own merit just a few years ago. That counts for something, at least as much as it does for Arbuckle or Cody. No, I don't think he's much better, but I bet he'd have won one by now if he was in Maier's place. When MBT is hot he's hot. Maier has never been even lukewarm.
Quote from: Big Daddy on August 31, 2026, 12:47:41 AMDinwiddie sure seems stubborn. Interesting stat that all qb's prior to this setting that were 0-10 to start the season won their 11th game. Not looking good for Ottawa unless they switch it up for 2nd half.
That TSN chart can be read another way though: they won their 11th game OR they were benched! How many QBs get a leash after losing 11? Most HCs would pull their guy waaay before then.
Quote from: Big Daddy on August 31, 2026, 12:47:41 AMStegall calling the migration of Kelly to Ottawa for next year is interesting - that could save Dinwiddie and buy him into next season.
I said that possibility like 6 OTT losses ago, and the fact Kelly wasn't lighting things up. Kelly could be throwing the season to get out of his TOR contract -- TOR will blame him and trade him or cut him. The could be why Dinwiddie was so very keen on our 1RDPs... he'll need lots of ammo to trade for Kelly.
Now normally a QB won't throw a season because then his stock goes down and he'll have a hard time getting a new big payday. But if Dinwiddie had "off the record" talks with Kelly either before leaving (or more recently...) and already agreed (verbally) to take Kelly for $X, then it wouldn't matter at all if Kelly throws every TOR game.
Clearly Kelly & Dinwiddie have a bromance and are totally made for each other. I don't think either will do well alone -- they NEED each other. If TOR was smart, they won't fall for it, or they'll extract a super high price from Dinwiddie -- maybe the most expensive CFL trade ever.
Quote from: Lincoln Locomotive on August 31, 2026, 02:00:21 AMHorvath is a beast....127 combined yards rushing and receiving plus two TDs on the ground. He also is their short yardage QB option. He's on pace right now to break milt Stegall's record of 23 TDs in a season!
I agree with TSN talking heads: TD record needs to be split up. Getting a SY TD, or even a RB TD (i.e. where the QB touches the ball first), should 100% be separate from the Stegall WR TDs. It's freakin' hard to get 60Y TDs, or short curls or corner fades. 100X harder than sauntering forward 3Y behind very fat guys, and 1000X harder than sneaking for 1.
If they are going to let Horvath (or Stevens) rob the REAL skill record of Milt's, then they need to put a * on it and start a new record for reception TDs. And even if that subtracts a couple from Milt (any non-passing sweep TDs? any rushing TDs?) he'll still be the leader.
I didn't watch the TSN HT show yet but this game totally needs a "that's so OTT" segment. It's obscene how a decently-performing team can do so much foot-shooting. It almost seems comical.
Like many of their games, they have a great shot at winning for much of the game, even though the cracks are starting to show. The scary part is, they never seem to improve each game. They just sit stagnant at the ol' OTT level. Truly bizarre.
Still, a modestly entertaining game. I always love seeing Rourke picked and sacked. And waiting in anticipation for Maiers big first INT screwup is fun. You just know he's going to toss up a "why did you throw that?" ball.
Quote from: Tecno on August 31, 2026, 09:38:35 AMMBT got TOR to the GC basically on his own merit just a few years ago. That counts for something, at least as much as it does for Arbuckle or Cody. No, I don't think he's much better, but I bet he'd have won one by now if he was in Maier's place. When MBT is hot he's hot. Maier has never been even lukewarm.
Maybe, but who cares?
Quote from: Tecno on August 31, 2026, 09:45:05 AMKelly could be throwing the season to get out of his TOR contract -- TOR will blame him and trade him or cut him. The could be why Dinwiddie was so very keen on our 1RDPs... he'll need lots of ammo to trade for Kelly.
Now normally a QB won't throw a season because then his stock goes down and he'll have a hard time getting a new big payday. But if Dinwiddie had "off the record" talks with Kelly either before leaving (or more recently...) and already agreed (verbally) to take Kelly for $X, then it wouldn't matter at all if Kelly throws every TOR game.
I think he'd take a lot less hits if he truly was throwing the season. He is taking wild chances with the ball at times though. Maybe a coaching issue or a case of Kelly not listening.
Quote from: Tecno on August 31, 2026, 09:38:35 AMMBT got TOR to the GC basically on his own merit just a few years ago. That counts for something, at least as much as it does for Arbuckle or Cody. No, I don't think he's much better, but I bet he'd have won one by now if he was in Maier's place. When MBT is hot he's hot. Maier has never been even lukewarm.
MBT is a fiery leader while Maier is calm and milquetoasty, on that basis I'd hand the ball to MBT to stir up some pride and fix that mess. The talent level on Ottawa is not insufficient, they just don't play well enough to win.
Ottawa needs to change things up to get things going, and handing the ball over to MBT would be that spark to hopefully get them a win. I can't imagine the moral in the clubhouse right now being 0-11, and with MBT starting the club would be 0-0. The weight of being 0-11 must be huge on the players.
Quote from: Tecno on August 31, 2026, 09:45:05 AMI said that possibility like 6 OTT losses ago, and the fact Kelly wasn't lighting things up. Kelly could be throwing the season to get out of his TOR contract -- TOR will blame him and trade him or cut him. The could be why Dinwiddie was so very keen on our 1RDPs... he'll need lots of ammo to trade for Kelly.
Now normally a QB won't throw a season because then his stock goes down and he'll have a hard time getting a new big payday. But if Dinwiddie had "off the record" talks with Kelly either before leaving (or more recently...) and already agreed (verbally) to take Kelly for $X, then it wouldn't matter at all if Kelly throws every TOR game.
Clearly Kelly & Dinwiddie have a bromance and are totally made for each other. I don't think either will do well alone -- they NEED each other. If TOR was smart, they won't fall for it, or they'll extract a super high price from Dinwiddie -- maybe the most expensive CFL trade ever.
Firstly, for all his other warts, Kelly is intensely competitive and its highly unlikley he would throw a game, never mind a season.
Secondly, his contract with TO ends at the end of this year, so there is no necessity to do so.
I disagree that Kelly is trying to get sent to Ottawa. Guy is just super competitive, in love with his abilities and a gunslinger. Perfect recipe for his type of season aka 5000+ passing yards, 30+td passes, 20+ ints.
The whole idea of Kelly throwing the season is nuts, seriously folks....I can see him going there next season as a FA, but to purposely throw a season, no way.
Quote from: bunker on August 31, 2026, 06:19:38 PMFirstly, for all his other warts, Kelly is intensely competitive and its highly unlikley he would throw a game, never mind a season.
Secondly, his contract with TO ends at the end of this year, so there is no necessity to do so.
Quote from: dd on August 31, 2026, 10:33:01 PMThe whole idea of Kelly throwing the season is nuts, seriously folks....I can see him going there next season as a FA, but to purposely throw a season, no way.
Well, if Kelly will be FA like Bunker says, then yes, the theory is impossible. But if Kelly has 1 or 2 seasons left with TOR then anything is possible.
I could have sworn Kelly did a renog / extension with TOR but I can't find any news on this, so it looks like he only has the 3 year deal from '23, meaning he would be FA in FA27. In which case ya, he'll just wait it out and there's zero incentive to suck, as being the best would help him increase even the Dinwiddie whisper offer.
Still, it's a bit odd that Kelly is sucking waaaay worse than he did before his injury. He looks worse than Rourke, T.Harris, Alexander, and probably even Cody, Zach and VAJ. Pre-injury he was looking like a top-2 QB for sure. Or is it that his TOR team is just that bad overall?
Is TOR about to be royally screwed in '27 being the only team left without a real QB?
Quote from: Tecno on September 01, 2026, 05:50:09 AMWell, if Kelly will be FA like Bunker says, then yes, the theory is impossible. But if Kelly has 1 or 2 seasons left with TOR then anything is possible.
I could have sworn Kelly did a renog / extension with TOR but I can't find any news on this, so it looks like he only has the 3 year deal from '23, meaning he would be FA in FA27. In which case ya, he'll just wait it out and there's zero incentive to suck, as being the best would help him increase even the Dinwiddie whisper offer.
Still, it's a bit odd that Kelly is sucking waaaay worse than he did before his injury. He looks worse than Rourke, T.Harris, Alexander, and probably even Cody, Zach and VAJ. Pre-injury he was looking like a top-2 QB for sure. Or is it that his TOR team is just that bad overall?
Is TOR about to be royally screwed in '27 being the only team left without a real QB?
Kelly has a very small sample size of success that was with a championship team around him.
There's honestly not much reason to have as much faith in him as you do.
That said, I do wish teams would let QBs let it rip a little more than they do. Everyone is so risk adverse now it's killing the game.
Quote from: Jesse on September 01, 2026, 02:20:20 PMThat said, I do wish teams would let QBs let it rip a little more than they do. Everyone is so risk adverse now it's killing the game.
When you only got 2 tries...