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Alonzo Addae, Eugene Lewis return for Ottawa Redblacks
by 3Down Staff July 2, 2026
The Ottawa Redblacks will have two key veterans back in the lineup when they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday night. The team released its official depth chart on Thursday.
Alonzo Addae will start at safety after spending last week on the one-game injured list with a head injury. The 28-year-old native of Pickering, Ont. has played 53 regular-season games over five seasons with Ottawa, making 97 defensive tackles, 13 special teams tackles, seven interceptions, and one forced fumble. He was a full participant in practice this week.
Eugene Lewis will also return to the lineup after sitting out last game with a shoulder injury. He was a full participant in practice this week. The six-foot, 200-pound target is the CFL's leading active receiver, making 480 catches for 7,368 yards and 47 touchdowns over 118 career regular-season games with the Montreal Alouettes, Edmonton Elks, and Redblacks.
Keelan White, who was limited in practice this week with an ankle injury, has been listed as a game-time decision. Binjimen Victor, who started for Lewis last week, has been moved to the practice roster. The 29-year-old made two receptions for 32 yards in a loss to the Montreal Alouettes.
The Redblacks have made a handful of other changes to the roster, cutting quarterback Nicholas Vittiato in favour of McLeod Bethel-Thompson. The veteran quarterback is listed as the backup to Jake Maier with Bryson Barnes as the third-stringer.
Jelani Stafford has been promoted to the active roster and will start at defensive tackle alongside Michael Wakefield. The six-foot-one, 300-pound defender, who was a two-time 1,000-yard rusher in high school, made 107 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three pass knockdowns, and two fumble recoveries over 38 games at the University of Connecticut. He also played some running back, racking up 15 carries for 22 yards and six touchdowns.
Adrian Frye has returned from injury and will start at field-side cornerback after sitting out the last two games with a groin injury. Shakur Brown, who made six tackles over two starts in Frye's place, has been moved to the practice roster.
Depth linebackers Lucas Cormier and Jamie Pettway have been added to the active roster after missing the game against Montreal. In corresponding moves, Josh Connors has been placed on the practice roster, and Aaron Casey has been moved to the one-game injured list.
Kemari Munier-Bailey has also been promoted to the active roster. The 24-year-old native of the United Kingdom was previously a first-round pick in the CFL Global Draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In a corresponding move, veteran defensive tackle Blessman Ta'ala has been demoted to Ottawa's practice roster.
The Ottawa Redblacks (0-3) will host the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-1) at TD Place Stadium on Friday, July 3 with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT. The Roughriders are coming off a 40-34 loss to the Toronto Argonauts, while the Redblacks dropped a 37-35 matchup against the Montreal Alouettes.
https://3downnation.com/2026/07/02/alonzo-addae-eugene-lewis-return-for-ottawa-redblacks/
Saskatchewan Roughriders place returner James Letcher Jr. on six-game injured list
by 3Down Staff July 2, 2026
The Saskatchewan Roughriders will have to rely on a fresh-faced returner when they face the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday.
James Letcher Jr. has been placed on the six-game injured list with an elbow problem suffered on his first touch in Week 4. He was acquired by the Riders in free agency after a successful stint with the Montreal Alouettes.
Rookie American receiver Mathew Sexton is expected to take over Letcher's return duties. The five-foot-ten, 176-pound target signed with the Riders after a rookie camp stint with the Ottawa Redblacks and caught nine passes for 112 yards in the preseason, while adding four punt returns for 31 yards, four kickoff returns for 75 yards, and a missed field goal return for 53 yards. The 28-year-old played collegiately at Eastern Michigan, where he made 100 receptions for 1,135 yards and nine touchdowns, while returning 21 kickoffs for 353 yards and one punt for 27 yards. He has since had stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Vegas Vipers, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, and San Antonio Brahmas.
Elsewhere, American receiver Jaylen Johnson, who has nine receptions for 117 yards through three games, has been placed on the one-game injured list with a shoulder issue.
Johnny Johnson III will draw into the starting lineup for the first time in his career, after recording four catches for 64 yards and a touchdown in the preseason. The 27-year-old was a collegiate standout at the University of Oregon, where he made 139 catches for 1,928 yards and 15 touchdowns over 57 career games. He later played two NFL games for the Houston Texans.
Canadian receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby will also return to the lineup after a one-game absence, sending D'Sean Mimbs back to the practice roster. Local product Daniel Wiebe will continue to dress after scoring his first touchdown last week, while Samuel Emilus is good to go despite an injury scare last week.
Defensively, Nelson Lokombo returns from an ankle injury, but will not take back his safety spot from Jaxon Ford. Instead, he will step in at boundary halfback for Jonathan Edouard. American defensive back Seyi Oladipo Jr. has been returned to the practice roster. Along the defensive line, former first-round pick Ali Saad has been placed on the six-game with a calf injury and will be replaced by American Devin Adams.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-1) will visit the Ottawa Redblacks (0-3) at TD Place Stadium on Friday, July 3, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT. The Roughriders are coming off a 40-34 loss to the Toronto Argonauts, while the Redblacks dropped a 37-35 matchup against the Montreal Alouettes.
The weather forecast in Ottawa calls for a high of 30 degrees and a 70 percent chance of rain. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on 620 CKRM in Regina or TSN 1200 in Ottawa.
https://3downnation.com/2026/07/02/saskatchewan-roughriders-place-returner-james-letcher-jr-on-six-game-injured-list/
Dinwiddie pulling a Chris Jones for a second week in a row. Roster changes: 8 on, 8 off. Same as last week. You can't build a winning team or gel like that. It's a glorified extended TC.
Bailey gets a second chance, now dressing for OTT this weekend.
OTT O looks good on paper, D ok too. But there is no gel, and the QB has only one way of winning: like Arbuckle did in the GC. It's not sustainable.
luke wilson is the best. he calls it like we see it at home. no sugarcoating
dinwiddie is a fool for not sneaking the ball
after getting bailed out dinwiddie decides to sneak the ball.
Why doesn't Ottawa use Greg Bell?
Quote from: Tecno on July 03, 2026, 12:37:29 AMDinwiddie pulling a Chris Jones for a second week in a row. Roster changes: 8 on, 8 off. Same as last week. You can't build a winning team or gel like that. It's a glorified extended TC.
Bailey gets a second chance, now dressing for OTT this weekend.
OTT O looks good on paper, D ok too. But there is no gel, and the QB has only one way of winning: like Arbuckle did in the GC. It's not sustainable.
There is no gelling required. You can either make a play or you can't. Dinwiddie has a big job in turning this franchise around. Status quo and losing is unacceptable. I like it. It's been too cushy too long in Ottawa. Get rid of the losers and you ll stop losing
Quote from: dd on July 04, 2026, 02:03:22 AMThere is no telling required. You can either make a play or you can't. Dinwiddie has a big job in turning this franchise around. Status quo and losing is unacceptable. I like it. It's been too cushy too long in Ottawa. Get rid of the losers and you ll stop losing
If he was actually doing that - getting rid of losers - he would have never stuck with meier. Guy is the ultimate loser QB...no more than a back-up.
Quote from: blueandgoldguy on July 04, 2026, 02:26:24 AMIf he was actually doing that - getting rid of losers - he would have never stuck with meier. Guy is the ultimate loser QB...no more than a back-up.
Again, can't blame Maier for this loss, he played well. The last 2 games we're starting to see the talent coaches have seen in him in the past, he seems to have a good arm and throws the ball accurately into small holes.
Jake Maier isn't the reason they lost, if anything he played well enough to win just others around him didn't.
He's played well for the red blacks he's not spectacular but he doesn't turn the ball over not like interception king dru brown. Pout all he wants but inside made the right call, brown had tons of time to prove he was a winner but all he did was turn the ball over and prove to everyone he's a loser. We got absolutely fleeced in that trade, fleeced!!
That was a pathetic display on the third and short by the Ottawa O-line, particularly the right side. It was well under a yard. Up til then, Maier was doing what he had to to bring them back. Although based on the way the Ottawa defense collapsed at the end, I suspect Riders would have found a way to win, even if Ottawa scored.
Quote from: dd on July 04, 2026, 03:03:10 AMJake Maier isn't the reason they lost, if anything he played well enough to win just others around him didn't.
He's played well for the red blacks he's not spectacular but he doesn't turn the ball over not like interception king dru brown. Pout all he wants but inside made the right call, brown had tons of time to prove he was a winner but all he did was turn the ball over and prove to everyone he's a loser. We got absolutely fleeced in that trade, fleeced!!
Maier is the king of 2nd and 9 and throwing a 7 yard pass. He was better when the score in the last qtr dictated that he open it up but again on the last drive it resulted in 3rd and one giving sask the chance to stop the drive.
Maier isn't going to throw as many interceptions as Dru but when 90% of your passes are 7 yds
that's gonna happen. He plays just good enough to get close but not win. The only winning season ottawa has had was when Brown started 17 games.
Quote from: markf on July 04, 2026, 01:57:21 AMWhy doesn't Ottawa use Greg Bell?
Because he sucks? Because his OL sucks? Because there's no gel or coordination required for proper run plays? (See also: WPG anytime Brady only gets 0-2Y)
I'm at 4Q6:20 and Bell just had his first non-useless run of the whole game.
Quote from: dd on July 04, 2026, 02:03:22 AMThere is no gelling required. You can either make a play or you can't.
Of course gel is required. That's why SSK hit the ground running this year: they still had gel from '25. You can't say it's personnel, as they lost a huge chunk of their top guys to FA.
And it's doubly required on important units: OL, DL, DB corps -- gel is over half their game. 1-2 guys screw up and the play usually fails.
REC corps, not as much, although in the short game the blocking gel is pretty important.
Quote from: dd on July 04, 2026, 03:03:10 AMJake Maier isn't the reason they lost, if anything he played well enough to win just others around him didn't.
Dinwiddie has clearly helped solve Maiers INT problem. He was never a slinger, but in CGY he still found ways to throw it straight to the other team
at the worst possible times. That was his greatest sin, and why he was never considered a starter post-CGY.
IMHO, he's still not even close to 2018-2019 Matt Nichols level. He really is like a 2025 Arbuckle. Interesting thought exercise: if Dinwiddie had both Maier and Arbuckle right now, who does he start (assuming both were there through the full TC)?
Quote from: bunker on July 04, 2026, 03:10:01 AMAlthough based on the way the Ottawa defense collapsed at the end, I suspect Riders would have found a way to win, even if Ottawa scored.
Not sure how any team will be stopping Stevens from closing out a game. Very demoralizing. You'll need a lot of dressed beef to deal with that. Can Eli & Vibe play DL too?
Our smaller DBs (Nichols, Holm, Kelly, Kramdi) will get absolutely blown up when he clears the front 7. Kyrie will have trouble. Jones and Griffin might have a shot though! Maybe Ayers too.
The failed game-losing sneak is why Mafia values the SY game so highly. It didn't even look like a full yard. That Barnes guy was nothing but hesitation, which cost him. And that OL is hot garbage, and Vacarro is not ready to be even a guard right now.
BTW, that "QB carousel" AI clip in the game & pre-game was hilarious. I'm not normally a fan of this AI slop, but one was 100% on point.
The pregame show for this game, they interview Rankin. Milt asks Ranking "the one player that can catch you out in the open field is..."
Rankin says: "Holm".
Cool
The Redblack punter chickened out on making a tackle on the punt return TD. That could get him cut. A few players may see the axe this week. Lack of effort and discipline by some.
Quote from: Blue In BC on July 04, 2026, 03:02:56 PMThe Redblack punter chickened out on making a tackle on the punt return TD. That could get him cut. A few players may see the axe this week. Lack of effort and discipline by some.
That return looked shady, the refs. also ignored a block in the back that was obvious.
Quote from: Tecno on July 04, 2026, 08:48:18 AMThe pregame show for this game, they interview Rankin. Milt asks Ranking "the one player that can catch you out in the open field is..."
Rankin says: "Holm".
Cool
Noticed Rankin and Holm had a bit of a tiff going on, which is unusual for Holm.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on July 04, 2026, 04:41:08 PMNoticed Rankin and Holm had a bit of a tiff going on, which is unusual for Holm.
Nah, Holm will talk smack to you if you get in his face. He holds his own. Ya, he probably doesn't initiate it though.
And if Rankin started a tiff, it's probably out of respect.
Quote from: Blue In BC on July 04, 2026, 03:02:56 PMThe Redblack punter chickened out on making a tackle on the punt return TD. That could get him cut. A few players may see the axe this week. Lack of effort and discipline by some.
Worse, he made the cardinal sin of not forcing the returner back inside. The P/K or LS one job is to force them back inside. Dude did the worst thing by actually protecting him on the outside! Real stupid.