After qualifying for the East Division playoffs last year, the Ottawa Redblacks have put themselves in a precarious spot to begin 2025.
Entering Thursday night’s home game with the Calgary Stampeders, Ottawa is off to a 1-6 start — the CFL’s worst record. Even with Grey Cup champ Toronto straggling along at 2-5, the Redblacks need to string together wins in a hurry if they’re to play meaningful games in the fall.
So why is Ottawa riding the struggle bus?
“It’s just a lot of things that come down to small details, stuff that we need to focus on and do better,” Redblacks defensive tackle Mike Wakefield told the Ottawa Citizen. “The CFL is a crazy football league. Anything could happen. So, I’ve still got big belief.”
The Redblacks are coming off a bye following a 30-15 home loss to Hamilton on July 20. They’ve lost four straight since toppling Calgary 20-12 on June 21 during a rainstorm. The good news for Ottawa is that centre Peter Godber, considered a key signing in free agency, is expected to return from the injured list after missing the first seven games with a broken finger.
Meanwhile, the Stampeders (5-2) are playing their fourth game in 20 days. They’re coming off a 23-21 home loss on July 24 to Montreal thanks to Jose Maltos’ 58-yard field goal with 1:10 remaining.
Calgary will have to go without quarterback Vernon Adams (concussion), who practiced on Tuesday but hasn’t fully recovered from Tyrice Beverette’s hit late in the third quarter of the Montreal loss.
Backup P.J. Walker will get the call and hopes to be more effective than he was in relief against the Alouettes. Walker completed 3 of 7 attempts for 20 yards and led the offense to just one first down in four possessions.
“He’s going to have to learn to fly,” Stamps coach Dave Dickenson told the Calgary Herald. “I do think he’s got a lot of talent and (he) puts a lot of work into it.”
Walker might have to operate without the team’s top two receivers. Damien Abbott, who leads the Stamps with five touchdown receptions, will be out with a hamstring injury. Jalen Philpot, who paces the team with 24 receptions, is questionable with a hamstring issue.
–Field Level Media
