OTTAWA 鈥� The Ottawa Redblacks are sticking with quarterback Dustin Crum for the second straight game as they await the return of injured starter Dru Brown.
Crum stepped up in a big way last week, injecting new life into the offence in a 20-12 win over the Calgary Stampeders. The Redblacks (1-2-0) will look to make it two in a row when they host the Toronto Argonauts (0-3-0) Sunday night.
Brown is getting closer to returning from a hip injury suffered in the season-opener against Saskatchewan but will not dress this week. Matt Shiltz and Tyrie Adams will serve as backups.
Head coach Bob Dyce is looking for his team to build off last week鈥檚 success.
鈥淲e want to be consistently great,鈥� said Dyce. 鈥淚t is important for us to make sure we鈥檙e taking care of the details and focusing on everything that we need to do and play in the way we need to for 60.鈥�
Being thrown into action is nothing new for Crum. In 2023, the 26-year-old made 14 starts as a rookie and gained significant playing experience. He was mostly relegated to short-yardage duty last season but has shown he can have success in this league.
鈥淚 think that first win was a little bit of a monkey off our back and now we can just roll and try to improve week in and week out,鈥� Crum said. 鈥淎nyone who鈥檚 been around this league knows it鈥檚 about how you鈥檙e playing at the end of the season and how you鈥檙e stacking games and stacking weeks, and that鈥檚 what it will come down to when it鈥檚 all said and done.鈥�
A key factor in last week鈥檚 win was the Redblacks鈥� ability to establish the run game.
Canadian running back Daniel Adeboboye, who had 10 carries for 96 yards last week, will start ahead of William Stanback.
Adeboboye, who played for the Argonauts last year, looked impressive when he ran up the middle for a 52-yard gain late in the game.
鈥淚鈥檓 super happy because it was a great moment for our team as a whole,鈥� said Adeboboye. 鈥淓veryone was doing their thing without the ball and with the ball as well. It was a good setup for this week going into the Canada Day weekend.鈥�
Ottawa鈥檚 defence will look to make life difficult for Toronto QB Nick Arbuckle.
The Redblacks defence continues to make its mark early in the season, leading the CFL with four fumble recoveries. The Redblacks have also forced a league-high seven fumbles.
鈥淐oach (William) Fields came in from day one of training camp and talked about needing to cause turnovers, whether they be forced fumbles or interceptions,鈥� said linebacker Adarius Pickett. 鈥淛ust getting the ball back for the offence and helping the team, you know, turnovers cause success for real.鈥�
Dyce said before the season even started, a focus for the coaching staff was to play an aggressive style that would force turnovers.
鈥淚t shows that the players know how important it is, and the coaches are continuing to stress it,鈥� said Dyce. 鈥淎s long as you can keep creating those and we take care of the ball offensively, that鈥檚 a big factor in leading to wins.鈥�
ARGONAUTS (0-3-0) AT REDBLACKS (1-2-0)
MILESTONE MARK: Arbuckle will play in his 100th career game and make his first start against Ottawa.
NO SOPHOMORE JINX: Redblacks sophomore defensive back Adrian Frye leads the CFL with three forced fumbles.
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP: Toronto鈥檚 Andrew Chatfield is tied, with BC鈥檚 Dewayne Hendrix, for the CFL lead in sacks with three.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2025.
Lisa Wallace, The Canadian Press
