The Ottawa Redblacks have set their roster for Saturday’s season-opening game against the Montreal Alouettes and a number of familiar faces will be out of the lineup.
Veteran quarterback Jeremiah Masoli will not play as he continues to recover from a season-ending leg injury he sustained last season. He has been replaced by journeyman Nick Arbuckle, who threw for 2,400 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions in Ottawa last year and went 3-5 as a starter.
A number of big-name players will open the season on Ottawa’s six-game injured list, including receivers Bralon Addison, Shaq Evans, and Tevaun Smith, linebackers Daniel Basambombo, James Peter, and Jovan Santos-Knox, and defensive back Money Hunter.
Canadian running back Ante Milanovic-Litre (ankle), American receiver Siaosi Mariner (hamstring), Canadian offensive lineman Dontae Bull (leg), and American defensive back Sherrod Baltimore (knee) have opened the season on the one-game injured list, while linebackers Lucas Cormier and Ryan Saddler are healthy scratches.
A number of well-entrenched veterans will be in the starting lineup, including Jaelon Acklin, Nate Behar, Jacob Ruby, Cleyon Laing, Lorenzo Mauldin IV, Cariel Brooks, and Adbul Kanneh. There is also plenty of youth, however, as Chizi Umunakwe, who will start at middle linebacker, has no previous professional experience. DeVonte Williams, who rushed for 454 yards last season, will start at running back.
The Redblacks will visit the Alouettes at Percival Molson Stadium on Saturday, June 9 with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. EDT.
