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Four defensive starters return for Montreal Alouettes against Ottawa
by 3Down Staff August 19, 2026
The Montreal Alouettes will have four defensive starters back in the lineup when they host the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday night. The team released its official depth chart on Wednesday.
Defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson, linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, strong-side linebacker Najee Murray, and boundary halfback Wesley Sutton are all back in the lineup after sitting out the team's most recent game, a 48-30 win over the Edmonton Elks.
Johnson has made 17 defensive tackles and four sacks over eight starts this season. The 27-year-old has been an impact player since he joined the Alouettes, tallying 122 defensive tackles, 21 sacks, one forced fumble, and one touchdown over five seasons. He earned an All-East Division selection in 2023.
Cantin-Arku has notched 38 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, and two sacks through eight regular-season games this year, his first as a full-time starter. The native of Lévis, Que. originally joined Montreal as a first-round pick in the 2024 CFL Draft out of the University of Memphis.
Murray is one of the longest-tenured members of the Alouettes, having originally joined the team in 2018. The five-foot-nine, 187-pound defender has recorded 268 defensive tackles, six special teams tackles, four sacks, four forced fumbles, and three interceptions over 73 career regular-season games, and helped Montreal win the Grey Cup in 2023.
Sutton has made 24 defensive tackles, one sack, and one interception over seven starts this season. Since joining the Alouettes in 2021, the three-time All-East Division selection has made 280 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, 10 sacks, seven forced fumbles, seven interceptions, and two touchdowns.
American running back Shomari Lawrence and Canadian linebacker Riley MacLeod have also been promoted from the practice roster to the active roster to fill depth roles.
In corresponding moves, the Alouettes have moved American linebacker Manuel Donovan and Canadian defensive back Arthur Hamlin to the reserve roster, while running back Rushawn Baker and defensive linemen Ty Anderson and Decarius Hawthorne have been placed on the practice roster.
Defensive back Faion Hicks, who has started four games this season in the secondary and recorded five defensive tackles and one forced fumble, has been placed on the disabled list.
The Montreal Alouettes (8-1) will host the Ottawa Redblacks (0-9) at Percival Molson Stadium on Thursday, August 20 with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT. Last week, the Redblacks extended their modern CFL record losing streak to 15 games, while the Alouettes were on bye.
The weather forecast in Montreal calls for 23 degrees and a mix of sun and cloud. 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 1200 in Ottawa or TSN 690 (English) or 99.5 Montreal (French) in Montreal.
https://3downnation.com/2026/08/19/four-defensive-starters-return-for-montreal-alouettes-against-ottawa/
Sione Teuhema to make Ottawa Redblacks debut against Alouettes
by 3Down Staff August 19, 2026
The Ottawa Redblacks will have Sione Teuhema in the lineup when they visit the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday night. The team released its official depth chart on Wednesday morning.
The six-foot-four, 245-pound defender signed with the team earlier this month and was initially placed on the practice roster. He will dress in a depth role at defensive end behind Habakkuk Baldonado and Jessie Evans.
The 30-year-old dressed for the first two regular-season games with the B.C. Lions earlier this year, recording two defensive tackles. He was cut in June.
Teuhema has played 58 career CFL regular-season games, making 110 defensive tackles, seven special teams tackles, and 25 sacks.
The Redblacks have also made a change in their secondary, as Dionté Ruffin (hamstring) has been moved to the six-game injured list.
King Ambers, the team's eighth-round pick in the 2025 CFL Draft, will move from field-side cornerback to field-side halfback to start in his place. Benny Sapp III, who signed with the team earlier this week, is listed in a depth role behind Ambers.
Eric Cumberbatch, a local product from the University of Ottawa, will start at field-side cornerback. This will be the first career start for the 23-year-old, who has made one defensive tackle and two special teams tackles through 16 career regular-season games.
Canadian defensive linemen Charlie Parks (bicep) and Muftah Ageli (hamstring) have been placed on the six-game injured list, while Global tight end Jevoni Robinson (hip) has been moved to the one-game injured list.
Ottawa leads the CFL with 17 players on the six-game injured list.
Middle linebacker Nyles Morgan is listed as a game-time decision due to a hamstring injury that limited him in practice this week. The 30-year-old has made 42 defensive tackles and one sack this season, and had only just returned to the lineup last week due to a broken hand.
Fellow linebacker Josh Connor, the team's eighth-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft out of Wilfrid Laurier, has been promoted from the practice roster to fill a depth role.
The Redblacks have lost 15 straight games, setting a modern CFL record for longest losing skid. They have also become just the tenth team in CFL history to begin a season 0-9.
The team is 0-2 against the Alouettes this season, losing 37-35 on June 28 in Montreal, and 34-13 on July 31 in Ottawa.
The Ottawa Redblacks (0-9) will visit the Montreal Alouettes (8-1) at Percival Molson Stadium on Thursday, August 20 with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT. Last week, the Redblacks extended their modern CFL record losing streak to 15 games, while the Alouettes were on bye.
The weather forecast in Montreal calls for 23 degrees and a mix of sun and cloud. 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 1200 in Ottawa or TSN 690 (English) or 99.5 Montreal (French) in Montreal.
https://3downnation.com/2026/08/19/sione-teuhema-to-make-ottawa-redblacks-debut-against-alouettes/
0 - 10 on the horizon for the Redblacks.
They are gonna win one soon. Not this one, but soon.
Although... Remember the 2024 GC. We were 11 point favourites. We lost horribly. Sometimes it happens when you least expect it. Oh ya, and who was the HC for that game??
Ya Dinwiddie isn't pulling anymore rabbits out of his hat, redblacks get smoked on this one
Quote from: dd on August 20, 2026, 12:39:59 AMYa Dinwiddie isn't pulling anymore rabbits out of his hat, redblacks get smoked on this one
Thumbs can get sliced up. Or hammies can get torn... Who is mtl #2?
Quote from: Tecno on August 20, 2026, 12:54:15 AMThumbs can get sliced up. Or hammies can get torn... Who is mtl #2?
I prefer my ham sliced lol
QuoteThumbs can get sliced up. Or hammies can get torn... Who is mtl #2?
Dustin crum who's better than Jake maier!!
Quote from: Tecno on August 19, 2026, 10:39:03 PMThey are gonna win one soon. Not this one, but soon.
What is scary is that they don't play any teams down the stretch that will have locked up their playoff spot. The only possibility is the last game of the year against Hamilton, both may already be eliminated.
At some point they'll stop talking about longest losing streak and make it about the possibility of a winless season.
Do we see MBT? At least he's played in Montreal recently. Might be worth trying him at some point in the game.
It will be interesting to see how competitive Ottawa is against the Als compared to how they played against us. That may give us some measure of where we are as a team.
Ottawa is a low bar to measure against but nevertheless it might be a current indicator.
Ottawa driving!
Quote from: Jesse on August 20, 2026, 11:46:30 PMOttawa driving!
They did their absolute best to screw it up, but they did it.
Up 7-0
Great start Dimwiddies
Maier looks like an All Star lol
Als can't keep there hands off helmets to make a tackle. Friggin cheaters.
These horns are as annoying as hell!
Bush league in Montreal
Man, Ottawa being given gifts and they still decide to mess it up.
Quote from: Jesse on August 21, 2026, 12:04:25 AMMan, Ottawa being given gifts and they still decide to mess it up.
horrid pass decision by Maier.
And now Montreal mad.
My god Ottawa is so bad!
Kick a field goal...nope.
lol Wilson
Welp.
I hope Ottawa enjoyed that game opening TD. Cause it's all downhill from there.
Wilson is such a tool. You're the short yardage qb, all you have to do is take the snap and fall forward, doh, forgot the ball, he should be playing for Ottawa
Maybe the Bombers can steal Cole Spieker in the offseason, can't keep em all and time for the Als to be gutted. The Als aren't really that good, they just look that way.
Ottawa continues to self destruct. A combination of bad luck and poor execution. An int in the end zone, a botched FG and a pick 6 is enough to lose any game. I stopped watching before half time.
Not what do they do? We could see them trimming more players and going into 2027 tryout mode.
Quote from: Blue In BC on August 21, 2026, 02:28:14 AMOttawa continues to self destruct. A combination of bad luck and poor execution. An int in the end zone, a botched FG and a pick 6 is enough to lose any game. I stopped watching before half time.
Not what do they do? We could see them trimming more players and going into 2027 tryout mode.
me to what a tire fire of mismanagement and hideous coaching. Feel sorry for there fans.
MTL really has an unfair advantage. HAM was going to duke them out for it, with BLM, but that's over now. TOR has taken steps back with their new HC, even with Kelly back in. OTT is a tire fire.
So MTL gets free reign to go 100% in their division. Which hardly seems fair given that they are already the best team. At least they should have to work for it.
I still think, as long as the divisions are uneven, WPG should be in the East division every other year -- alternate divisions. Why should the East always automatically get the easier ride with less teams every single season? Makes no sense. Odd years WPG is East. Even years they are West. Easy peasy. Think of how many more times WPG would be in playoffs or get a home playoff date!!
Quote from: Blue In BC on August 20, 2026, 09:04:42 PMIt will be interesting to see how competitive Ottawa is against the Als compared to how they played against us. That may give us some measure of where we are as a team.
Well, I wouldn't read too much into it, but 16-46 would indicate MTL is miles better than we are, especially on the D. Slightly offsetting that: Maier was even dumber this game, and their holder has never practiced a scramble drill, and it those drove OTT into desperation mode far sooner than in our game -- we didn't get such freebies.
So it tells us something, but maybe not as much as you'd think.
The more important thing is probably that MTL is going to be as hard to beat as they were in the '25 ESF -- or harder.
Maier is what he's always been. I have no idea why Dinwiddie even tried. It's like someone dating and seeing the other person is basically nuts and broken and thinking "I can fix 'em!". Ya, you can't, and similarly no one can fix Maier.
Maier can't see the pictures. He has no idea where the chess pieces are on the field. He'll happily throw into double and triple coverage (the EZ INT), and throw quick ones where the separation isn't enough (the curl INT). And he'll do it over and over and over again.
Dru isn't the best, but at least Dru sometimes sees pictures. Why a "QB Whisperer" couldn't see this is beyond me. Maier made it abundantly clear in CGY! It was just like this!! Even Arbuckle could see the pictures -- and that's why he was serviceable in the GC and actually won some games for TOR in '25.
Just end the Maier experiment, and relegate him to backup (or retirement) where he has always belonged. It's making everyone feel uncomfortable watching them trot him out to suck the same way every week. MBT isn't much better. Maybe trade for Arbuckle (or Dru haahahaha, for 3 1RDPs!) or Powell or even Crum. Or be first in line when Kelly & TOR part ways in 1-2 FAs.
As for feeling sorry for OTT: they are basically 2012-2013 WPG, and I lived that pain. If we can take it, so can they.
Did you notice MTL was getting really sloppy & taking tons of penalties when they had the slow start? I think they feel entitled to win every game, and aren't used to not getting their way. Their D was really blowing up doing the dumbest things.
We should try to find a way to inflame that further when we play them. Get them frustrated. Maybe it's as simple as methodically moving the ball for long drives, especially early in the game, and smacktalking it up. Now, Mafia won't coach or encourage that, but the players should amongst themselves!
I'm sure Maas will have a talk with them, but I bet we can get in the headspace of some of their hothead D nonetheless.
Methinks Dinwiddie may have underestimated the challenges of wearing two three hats simultaneously when he just accepted the RedBlacks GM/HC offer. It's not like he acquired some well oiled machine, either.
0-10 is rough as it is, but doubly so for a franchise that's struggled a lot in recent years.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on August 21, 2026, 12:51:33 PMMethinks Dinwiddie may have underestimated the challenges of wearing two hats simultaneously when he just accepted the RedBlacks GM/HC offer. It's not like he acquired some well oiled machine, either.
0-10 is rough as it is, but doubly so for a franchise that's struggled a lot in recent years.
He's also Offensive Coordinator.
Quote from: gobombersgo on August 21, 2026, 01:28:38 PMHe's also Offensive Coordinator.
Thanks for the info. So, three hats for Dinwiddie.
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Quote from: blue_gold_84 on August 21, 2026, 12:51:33 PMMethinks Dinwiddie may have underestimated the challenges of wearing two three hats simultaneously when he just accepted the RedBlacks GM/HC offer. It's not like he acquired some well oiled machine, either.
0-10 is rough as it is, but doubly so for a franchise that's struggled a lot in recent years.
Their year reminds me of the Reinbold year. :D
Quote from: Tecno on August 21, 2026, 07:36:04 AMWell, I wouldn't read too much into it, but 16-46 would indicate MTL is miles better than we are, especially on the D. Slightly offsetting that: Maier was even dumber this game, and their holder has never practiced a scramble drill, and it those drove OTT into desperation mode far sooner than in our game -- we didn't get such freebies.
So it tells us something, but maybe not as much as you'd think.
The more important thing is probably that MTL is going to be as hard to beat as they were in the '25 ESF -- or harder.
It's tough to assess but the Redblacks gave up at least 14 points to turnovers early in the game. I did not watch the 2nd half.
A pick 6 and that screw up on the FG. When does that happen lol. A blocked FG and recovery sure, but stripping the ball out of the hands of the LS? Yikes.
Redblacks obviously left points on the board in the same way they did against the Bombers.
Overall I think the Redblacks are better than their record but still a bad team.
I expect we'll see more roster movement as they trim players they won't want back in 2027. They might even be open to some trades to reduce SMS.
Currently show 17 players on 6 game IR. At some point a few may be able to return to the AR but that's a lot of players to deal with. Trimming is in the cards one way or another.
Quote from: gobombersgo on August 21, 2026, 01:28:38 PMHe's also Offensive Coordinator.
Could not watch that entire game, nominate as the worst game of the year, hopefully it wins the title and CFL fans don't have to endure more crap like this. For a dominating team the Als fans are fickle, stands were maybe half full.
Is Dinwiddie's main motivation having the majority of the management cap flow into his own pocket? That might explain why he remains calm on the sidelines while parodies of hell unwind on the field before his eyes.
Shakeup in the RedBlack boardroom with the firing of the President this week, I think they will force Dinwiddie to reduce his roles by at least one, have to believe he'll perform better with someone above him looking over his shoulder.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on August 21, 2026, 05:40:08 PMCould not watch that entire game, nominate as the worst game of the year, hopefully it wins the title and CFL fans don't have to endure more crap like this. For a dominating team the Als fans are fickle, stands were maybe half full.
Is Dinwiddie's main motivation having the majority of the management cap flow into his own pocket? That might explain why he remains calm on the sidelines while parodies of hell unwind on the field before his eyes.
Shakeup in the RedBlack boardroom with the firing of the President this week, I think they will force Dinwiddie to reduce his roles by at least one, have to believe he'll perform better with someone above him looking over his shoulder.
If you take him at face value, he was frustrated in Toronto over not having enough control over the roster.
Quote from: GOLDMEMBER on August 21, 2026, 01:44:33 PMThere year reminds me of the Reinbold year. :D
And ironically Reinbold was here when we were 0-10 or whatever...coincidence?? Hardly, losing seems to follow Reinbold wherever he goes, he's just not a very good coach.
If Ottawa is going to turn things around, they've got to quit using castoff coaches and players from other teams to build their team. Reinbold brings nothing to the table. Jake Maier was let go from Calgary and was backup in Sask and let go, and you turn around and make him your #1 and kick your former #1 to the curb. You get exactly what you deserve and I hope they go 0-18 this season. I feel sorry for Pimpleton and Hardy, 2 quality football players amongst a team of losers. I hope we can scoop one of these guys come FA time as I m sure they've seen enough of the Dinwiddie gong show.
Y'all should have watched the whole game. Always fun watching OTT find new ways to suck.
Late in the game Maier seemingly got the ball knocked out of his wind up by a pass rusher, for a scoop and score. Replay showed he just dropped it! No contact!
They put in MBT next series, and he proceeded to throw 2 INTs I think.
Their OL is really, really bad.
I'm starting to think Gino wasn't let go for his performance or cost... He was let go because he had turned against dinwiddie and Maier.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on August 21, 2026, 01:36:26 PMThanks for the info. So, three hats for Dinwiddie.
In theory being gm and hc should be easily doable. Hc doesn't have much to do in fa, and gm doesn't have much to do in season. Relatively speaking.
The main problem with wearing 2 hats is you can't combine knowledge and get the second opinion.
Quote from: Tecno on August 21, 2026, 11:05:55 PMY'all should have watched the whole game. Always fun watching OTT find new ways to suck.
Late in the game Maier seemingly got the ball knocked out of his wind up by a pass rusher, for a scoop and score. Replay showed he just dropped it! No contact!
They put in MBT next series, and he proceeded to throw 2 INTs I think.
Their OL is really, really bad.
I'm starting to think Gino wasn't let go for his performance or cost... He was let go because he had turned against dinwiddie and Maier.
The pump fake fumble by Maier was uuuuugly and was symbolic of ottawas struggles, they can't even hold a football right!! And Dinwiddie, Maier sucks, he always has and always will, and some may call you the qb whisperer I call you stupid for th qb decisions you ve made, first going with Maier and second for crapping all over brown. You are getting exactly what you deserve.
Agree that Lewis was let go as he had an ounce of pride and didn't want a deadbeat Qb and even a dumber deadbeat coach and gm. He left the gong show and will surface somewhere else, likely the first team that has their #1 receiver. Why we have t brought him in is beyond me especially when our so called deep threat drops a sure TD. We re one step better than Ottawa but still far from a contender
Quote from: dd on August 21, 2026, 06:59:18 PMAnd ironically Reinbold was here when we were 0-10 or whatever...coincidence?? Hardly, losing seems to follow Reinbold wherever he goes, he's just not a very good coach.
If Ottawa is going to turn things around, they've got to quit using castoff coaches and players from other teams to build their team. Reinbold brings nothing to the table. Jake Maier was let go from Calgary and was backup in Sask and let go, and you turn around and make him your #1 and kick your former #1 to the curb. You get exactly what you deserve and I hope they go 0-18 this season. I feel sorry for Pimpleton and Hardy, 2 quality football players amongst a team of losers. I hope we can scoop one of these guys come FA time as I m sure they've seen enough of the Dinwiddie gong show.
It is super coincidental that Reinbolds (droopy eyes) is a coach there. What a chump. lol