The Hamilton Tiger-Cats expect to be without starting Canadian safety Tunde Adeleke long-term after he was placed on the six-game injured list ahead of their matchup with the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday.
The 27-year-old was unable to practice following the bye week due to a hamstring injury. In three games thus far this season, he has collected 13 defensive tackles.
Through six CFL seasons, four of them with the Ticats, Adeleke has started 63 of his 81 appearances and amassed 225 defensive tackles, five sacks and five interceptions. Hamilton will incur significant salary cap savings by placing him on the six-game, as he is the CFL’s highest-paid defensive back.
Third-year backup Stavros Katsantonis will draw the start in place of the injured safety, while rookie Patrick Burke Jr. will back him up.
Debuting in the Ticats’ starting lineup is rookie American defensive tackle Jarrod Hewitt, who was signed by the team last month. He replaces Canadian Mohamed Diallo, who has been placed on the one-game injured list.
Hewitt spent two seasons on the practice roster with the Seattle Seahawks after signing with the club as an undrafted free agent. The six-foot-one, 280-pound native of Venice, Fla. played 45 games over four seasons at Virginia Tech (2017-20) and made 92 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
Dexter Lawson Jr. will make his second start of the season at cornerback in place of Lawrence Woods, while Tyreik McAllister handles return duties. Meanwhile, right guard Coulter Woodmansey returns to the lineup after missing Week 3 with a rib injury, bumping first-round pick Dayton Black to a backup role.
Rounding out the roster moves, recently signed quarterback Kai Locksley will dress as the third-stringer following the release of N’kosi Perry but has been assigned the number 89, suggesting he could take reps at receiver. Canadian pass catcher Chris Osei-Kusi has been bumped to the practice roster.
The Tiger-Cats (0-3) will host the Redblacks (1-2) on Saturday, July 8 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. They are currently favoured by points.
