Kalil Pimpleton #83 Montreal Alouettes vs Ottawa REDBLACKS July 31, 2026 PHOTO: André Ringuette/Freestyle Photography
The Ottawa REDBLACKS are back in action on Friday, still in search of the club’s first win on this season.
While no one inside the club thought they’d be in this position, the players and staff continue to approach every day with the right attitude and outlook.
“We’re professionals. We have to continue to come in every week and do our job. We have to find it within ourselves, mentally, emotionally and physically, to come in and focus on the task at hand.” Said receiver and return specialist Kalil Pimpleton.
Pimpleton has had a strong season for the REDBLACKS and remains one of the league’s biggest threats in the return game.
“It’s about coming in week after week, day after day, looking at the things that have contributed to our losses and doing our best to be better and not make those same mistakes and those same contributions to our losses. We need to focus on doing the positive things that can help us get a win.” Said Pimpleton.
As the club prepares to take on Winnipeg, they’ll be without some key contributors on the defensive line as veterans Mike Wakefield and Bryce Carter have landed on the six-game injured list.
Still, there’s some positive news with global defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado and middle linebacker Nyles Morgan returning to the lineup this week. Morgan, who played the majority of the July 9 game in Edmonton with a broken hand, will suit up with a club on his left hand to protect it Friday night.
“There’s nothing like being out there with the boys. This is why I do it. Being on the sideline kills me more than anything.” Said Morgan. “It feels great to get out there and let loose.”
“I just want to play. The club is just fine. The trainers did a great job protecting me and it allows me to go out there and play free.
The Notre Dame product was off to an outstanding start for Ottawa and still ranks in the top 20 in the league in tackles despite missing the last three weeks. His presence will surely be felt in the middle of the defence when he returns in Winnipeg.
Following the releases of starting defensive backs Demerio Houston and Amari Henderson, some younger players are going to get a shot in Ottawa’s defensive backfield.
Canadian King Ambers gets the start at field corner, while former Cincinnati Bengal Marcus Barnes gets a crack at boundary half. Rookie American Dennis Briggs Jr. makes his CFL debut starting on the interior of the defensive line.
“We felt like we have some good youth players. We need to find a way to get a spark on that back end and have some guys who can compete to get some turnovers for us. We appreciate everything (Demerio and Amari) did for the organization, but we felt it was time to go younger.” Said Head Coach and General Manager Ryan Dinwiddie.
On the Winnipeg side, All-CFL quarterback Zach Collaros draws back into the lineup and will get the start at Princess Auto Stadium. Former MOP Brady Oliveira is listed as a game-time decision heading into the contest.
These two club’s most met a month ago in an absolute thriller that resulted in Winnipeg outlasting the host REDBLACKS 36-34 in overtime.
Friday’s game gets underway at 8:30 ET on TSN and RDS at Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium.
