The Ottawa Redblacks were hoping that a stingy defence could help them through their offensive struggles this season, but it appears that unit is already taking a beating.
With the release of it’s depth chart for Saturday’s game against the B.C. Lions, the team announced that veteran defensive backs Abdul Kanneh and Sherrod Baltimore have been placed on the six-game injured list.
Kanneh, 30, played his first three CFL seasons with Ottawa (2014-16), winning a Grey Cup and earning two East Division all-star nods. He rejoined the Redblacks in February 2020 as a free agent after stints in Hamilton (2017) and Toronto (2018-19).
He was the standout performer in Ottawa’s shocking opening week win against the Edmonton Elks — picking off two passes including a game deciding pick six — but was a late scratch last week with a hamstring issue.
Baltimore has played three seasons in the nation’s capital. He’s suited up in 49 games making 91 tackles, two special teams tackles, two interceptions and forced one fumble. The 28-year-old recorded an interception in the 2018 Grey Cup game against Calgary.
He’s been Ottawa’s top corner all season, adding 11 more tackles through two games, but will now be out with a quadricep injury.
Also missing the game for Ottawa will be fellow defensive back De’Chavon Hayes, impactful Canadian defensive tackles Cleyon Laing and Stefan Charles, and starting running back Timothy Flanders.
Filling in for the three empty spots in the defensive secondary will be Canadian Justin Howell and rookie Americans Marcus Lewis and Brad Muhammad.
