(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HOfDkCgWcAA_uUr?format=jpg&name=large)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HOe6I38XoAAg2vi?format=jpg&name=large)
Former East all-star Kabion Ento back for Montreal Alouettes against Redblacks
by 3Down Staff July 30, 2026
The Montreal Alouettes will have one of their top defenders back in the lineup for Friday's matchup with the Ottawa Redblacks.
Cornerback Kabion Ento is making his return after missing the last four games. In three appearances this season, he has recorded five defensive tackles.
The 29-year-old has been with the Alouettes for four seasons, appearing in 51 regular-season games primarily as the field-side corner. He has amassed 142 defensive tackles, eight interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a defensive touchdown, earning East Division All-CFL honours in 2024.
Faion Hicks, who subbed in admirably for Ento, has been placed on the reserve roster after initially being listed as questionable due to a head injury. In four games, the former seventh-round NFL Draft pick has made four defensive tackles, as well as a game-winning forced fumble against Calgary.
The Alouettes have made no other changes to their roster on a short week. American linebacker Donovan Manuel remains the only other player on the reserve roster, while the team has eight players still on the six-game injured list: American running back Stevie Scott III; Canadian fullback David Dallaire; American receiver Jerreths Sterns; Canadian offensive lineman Justin Lawrence; American offensive lineman Des Holmes; American defensive lineman David Perales; Canadian linebacker Gabriel Lessard; and American defensive back Don Callis.
The Montreal Alouettes (6-1) will visit the Ottawa Redblacks (0-6) at TD Place Stadium on Friday, July 31, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT. The Alouettes knocked off the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday night, while the Redblacks were on bye.
The weather forecast in Ottawa calls for a high of 26 degrees and sun. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on TSN 690 (English) or 99.5 Montreal (French) in Montreal or TSN 1200 in Ottawa.
https://3downnation.com/2026/07/30/former-east-all-star-kabion-ento-back-for-montreal-alouettes-against-redblacks/
Former second-overall CFL Draft pick Nick Mardner returns for Ottawa Redblacks
by 3Down Staff July 30, 2026
The Ottawa Redblacks will have one of their most exciting young Canadians back in the lineup for the first time in nearly 15 months when they host the Montreal Alouettes on Friday.
Nick Mardner, the second overall selection in the 2024 CFL Draft, is slated to make his return from a leg injury in training camp last season. The native of Mississauga, Ont., started all 18 regular-season games for the Redblacks as a rookie in 2024, making 26 catches for 300 yards and three touchdowns, but has been unable to play since.
The six-foot-six, 208-pound target is officially listed as a backup behind return specialist Kalil Pimpleton, but could see some rotational reps in a receiving corps flush with new size. The team has listed six-foot-eight Global tight end Jevoni Robinson, who was recently acquired via trade, as a starter, while 2026 second-round pick Emeric Boutin will make his debut at fullback and give the team another potential mismatch weapon.
Up front, right tackle Zack Pelehos has been placed on the six-game injured list with a foot issue. American Julian Pearl will step in as the starter, altering the ratio. Canadian defensive tackle Daniel Okpoko will slot in behind new starter Muftah Ageli in his return to the lineup, while Canadian defensive back King Ambers will also dress.
On special teams, fan favourite and franchise legend Lewis Ward will handle kicking duties this week after he was brought back as insurance. Incumbent Brett Lauther has been placed on the six-game injured list due to a quad issue.
In corresponding moves, Global defensive linemen Blessman Ta'ala and Kemari Munier-Bailey, as well as Canadian linebacker Josh Connors, have all been demoted to the practice roster this week. Canadian linebacker Ben Dobson (knee) has landed on the six-game injured list, while American receiver Cade McDonald is on the reserve roster.
The Ottawa Redblacks (0-6) will host the Montreal Alouettes (6-1) at TD Place Stadium on Friday, July 31, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT. The Alouettes knocked off the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday night, while the Redblacks were on bye.
The weather forecast in Ottawa calls for a high of 26 degrees and sun. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on TSN 690 (English) or 99.5 Montreal (French) in Montreal or TSN 1200 in Ottawa.
https://3downnation.com/2026/07/30/former-second-overall-cfl-draft-pick-nick-mardner-returns-for-ottawa-redblacks/
depth charts posted
Right before the end of H1 the CFL has set brand new precedent. The call-down of "forward progress" on the fumble at the GL is completely insane. Yes, we've seen refs/command blow forward progress before, seemingly changing the play after the fact. But in every single instance the whistle still sounded -- just a couple/few seconds late. They'd say the ref "thought" forward progress in his head but was just 2s late on the whistle -- and that's understandable.
But there has never been an instance (that I've seen) where no whistle sounded, they let everything play out, and then blow a whistle 10s later -- and THEN have EITS call down "forward progress" to save them.
I must say I'm torn on this one. I hate changing precedent for no apparent reason other than they need to help the crap team. But, I also am a fan of quick whistles and stopping play. And if the refs are too incompetent to whistle forward progress, then is it the end of the world if command calls it down?
The danger is then command can cherry pick who they help and when, thus making "fixing games" far easier. We all know that if it was MTL who had that situation in this game then command WOULD NOT be calling down "forward progress". This was ONLY because everyone is desperate to get OTT a win. Just like they HAD to get BC a win in Kelowna.
IF this is the new precedent, then command needs to issue a public memo explaining when this will be called. And it can't be subjective nonsense. It has to be like "if the player has FP stopped, and he's wrapped up, then after one second all of these plays will be determined by command to be "forward progress stopped" and the play made dead at that point.
This is moving backwards for a league that wants to try to leave it to the refs on the field, and minimize command call-downs. It also will add more pauses (as it did in this game), slow down the game, and confuse everyone.
And now every HC will be chirping when they could be saved by an unwhistled FP, and will be screaming to the refs/command "hey you did it for OTT!".
Proulx, and Maas, must be freaking the bleep out at this craziness.
OTT field & whole scene dark again. Many years now, darkest night-time venue in the league. Why this can't be solved is beyond me.
At the beginning of the 2nd H MTL did something superb on D. 5Y to go TD, MTL shows blitz, like 7-8 guys on the line, then they drop everyone except 1 DT, and the 2 widest guys -- who were pretty wide because of the number of players. Everyone else drops to saturate every REC with 2-3 D per REC coverage! Everything was clogged up, and so Maier throws an INT into the middle.
The key is that 4 of 5 hoggies are left blocking air, being useless at the LoS. One of the OTs chips the right rusher, but he's still mostly free run to the QB. The left rusher is 100% free run to QB. Maier is instantly forced back and has to throw quickly or get sacked.
It's absolutely brilliant, and we need to copy that. You can stop run, you can stop short pass (especially in the clogged middle), you should be able to stop the corners with double-coverage. What's the correct counter for this? Whatever it is, we better figure it out before we play MTL!
Really fun stuff.
Also new, in H1 Pimpleton lined up behind the deadball line and the refs blew the FG dead at the snap. I think they flagged illegal substitution? Whatever it was, that's the first time I've seen that!
Pimpleton isn't new at returning! He should know better. Talk about brain toots and bad coaching!
OTT has SSK at home next. Ya, good luck with that.
So OTT will roll into PAS hungry and desperate. And they may possibly start MBT. Dinwiddie was crying at the end of this game, and there must be crazy pressure on him right now. Job on the line even though they were to give him a long leash?? At this stage of the season he's worse than Dyce last season!
Maier played well enough, if they would only convert in the red zone. Hey, that sounds familiar!! Bad teams... If we can't beat a nobody QB, not sure we can beat game-manager Maier, who is arguably playing the best he ever has (which isn't saying much, but still).
If Dru's out then Zach HAS to be back. While BC can roll with a nobody QB, we'll get hosed if we start one of our backups -- short of a miracle and 377 yards rushing!
Ottawa fires their DC.
Good ol' Jeff Reinebold takes over.
Quote from: Jesse on August 01, 2026, 02:17:41 PMOttawa fires their DC.
Good ol' Jeff Reinebold takes over.
Dear god, you talk about going from bad to worse, Deadbolt as your DC??!!
Doesn't it seem odd, that bad football teams have Reinbold on their coaching staff?!? Coincidence?? Hardly, and now he's DC, promotion by a desparate and bad football team. What he needs to do is get rid of Maier and start MBT, it won't solve the problem/make them winners, but they will be a better football team.
Watching this game and the Montreal O line, its no wonder they're killing everyone. Alexander has all day to throw. What a difference a good O line makes and makes you wonder, if Montreal had our O line, they'd be struggling too!!
Quote from: Tecno on August 01, 2026, 07:50:38 AMAlso new, in H1 Pimpleton lined up behind the deadball line and the refs blew the FG dead at the snap. I think they flagged illegal substitution? Whatever it was, that's the first time I've seen that!
Pimpleton isn't new at returning! He should know better. Talk about brain toots and bad coaching!
I don't know what the thinking was, that was a convert wasn't it? He was penalized for stepping out of bounds than back in, illegal participation.
Quote from: Tecno on August 01, 2026, 07:19:59 AMRight before the end of H1 the CFL has set brand new precedent. The call-down of "forward progress" on the fumble at the GL is completely insane. Yes, we've seen refs/command blow forward progress before, seemingly changing the play after the fact. But in every single instance the whistle still sounded -- just a couple/few seconds late. They'd say the ref "thought" forward progress in his head but was just 2s late on the whistle -- and that's understandable.
But there has never been an instance (that I've seen) where no whistle sounded, they let everything play out, and then blow a whistle 10s later -- and THEN have EITS call down "forward progress" to save them.
I must say I'm torn on this one. I hate changing precedent for no apparent reason other than they need to help the crap team. But, I also am a fan of quick whistles and stopping play. And if the refs are too incompetent to whistle forward progress, then is it the end of the world if command calls it down?
The danger is then command can cherry pick who they help and when, thus making "fixing games" far easier. We all know that if it was MTL who had that situation in this game then command WOULD NOT be calling down "forward progress". This was ONLY because everyone is desperate to get OTT a win. Just like they HAD to get BC a win in Kelowna.
IF this is the new precedent, then command needs to issue a public memo explaining when this will be called. And it can't be subjective nonsense. It has to be like "if the player has FP stopped, and he's wrapped up, then after one second all of these plays will be determined by command to be "forward progress stopped" and the play made dead at that point.
This is moving backwards for a league that wants to try to leave it to the refs on the field, and minimize command call-downs. It also will add more pauses (as it did in this game), slow down the game, and confuse everyone.
And now every HC will be chirping when they could be saved by an unwhistled FP, and will be screaming to the refs/command "hey you did it for OTT!".
Proulx, and Maas, must be freaking the bleep out at this craziness.
Very questionable call, seemed like they were being advised "from above" on how to call it.
Quote from: Tecno on August 01, 2026, 07:37:29 AMAt the beginning of the 2nd H MTL did something superb on D. 5Y to go TD, MTL shows blitz, like 7-8 guys on the line, then they drop everyone except 1 DT, and the 2 widest guys -- who were pretty wide because of the number of players. Everyone else drops to saturate every REC with 2-3 D per REC coverage! Everything was clogged up, and so Maier throws an INT into the middle.
The key is that 4 of 5 hoggies are left blocking air, being useless at the LoS. One of the OTs chips the right rusher, but he's still mostly free run to the QB. The left rusher is 100% free run to QB. Maier is instantly forced back and has to throw quickly or get sacked.
It's absolutely brilliant, and we need to copy that. You can stop run, you can stop short pass (especially in the clogged middle), you should be able to stop the corners with double-coverage. What's the correct counter for this? Whatever it is, we better figure it out before we play MTL!
Really fun stuff.
Dumb for Maier to line up in shot gun, Als knew he was going to pass. If they can solve their redzone issues the RedBlacks are ready to compete, Bombers better be prepared, Maier was moving the ball decently well.
Dustin Nielson called Terry Greer, Terry Green, twice. >:(
Glen Suitor would have got that right all 12+ times if he was working the game.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on August 01, 2026, 06:51:31 PMI don't know what the thinking was, that was a convert wasn't it? He was penalized for stepping out of bounds than back in, illegal participation.
Nope, wasn't illegal participation. They showed the replay and the dude never went back inbounds. He was on the line the whole time.
Besides, even if he goes in and out and in no one whistles a play dead! It's only when a IP guy gets involved with the ball or carrier that IP is invoked, and then only after the play is completed!
The only thing I can think of is there is a special rule covering this. Maybe the same rules as guys entering the field after the sideline refs raise their arms. I'll look into it.
Pimpleton was penalized for Illegal Substitution. It appeared as though he counted 13 players and tried to avoid Too Many Men by stepping off the field at the back of the end zone. A proper substitution requires leaving the field via the sideline at the team bench. An Ottawa player is shown leaving the field after the play with his head hanging low. He must have been the extra player.
Last week in the Tor-BC game there were 2 Illegal Substitution penalties for Team B players who entered the field late, after the gates went up.
Quote from: Tecno on August 01, 2026, 11:53:29 PMNope, wasn't illegal participation. They showed the replay and the dude never went back inbounds. He was on the line the whole time.
Besides, even if he goes in and out and in no one whistles a play dead! It's only when a IP guy gets involved with the ball or carrier that IP is invoked, and then only after the play is completed!
The only thing I can think of is there is a special rule covering this. Maybe the same rules as guys entering the field after the sideline refs raise their arms. I'll look into it.
He stepped out of bounds by his own miscalculation, he wasn't pushed out of bounds, so he's got to stay out of bounds he didn't and that's illegal participation. Guys coming in late after the offensive huddle has broken and the gates are up that's illegal substitution, 2 different fouls altogether
Quote from: Stats Junkie on August 02, 2026, 01:06:24 AMPimpleton was penalized for Illegal Substitution. It appeared as though he counted 13 players and tried to avoid Too Many Men by stepping off the field at the back of the end zone.
Ah, that makes sense then! Didn't think to count players, and the replay didn't show the early part of the live shot where it's clear Pimpleton is thinking what you said.
I do count 13. 11 on line, 1 sitting 5Y back, 1 back to return.
And the immediate flag because he's not allowed to exit there by rule. I knew there had to be a specific rule being invoked here.
Funny, if you watch you can see Pimpleton looking at the ref 2Y away: like saying, "look at me, I'm leaving the field, I can't do this, whistle it dead!".
Now, Pimpleton must have been coached up on this. Even if guys are yelling and waving at the sidelines, he wouldn't trust that to walk out unless he'd been coached. This is high-level thinking stuff and I would hope Mike Miller is getting our guys coached up on this too.
I still say I've never seen this
exact thing (trotting out the back) happen since starting watching CFL again in 2013.