The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have officially placed receiver Duke Williams on the six-game injured list ahead of Friday’s clash with the Ottawa Redblacks.
The 30-year-old suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter of Hamilton’s 41-28 loss to the Toronto Argonauts in the Labour Day Classic, but was the source of controversy this week after a cryptic tweet suggested his time with the Ticats could be coming to an end. When asked publicly about the issue, head coach Orlondo Steinauer said only that Williams would not play this week, adding that his future at the club would be addressed “another time.”
Williams is Hamilton’s third-leading receiver behind Tim White and Terry Godwin, having made 36 receptions for 510 yards and one touchdown. He is the league’s eighth-highest-paid receiver, earning $180,000 this season.
Rookie Omar Bayless will make his second appearance of the season in place of Williams. He has yet to record a catch in the CFL.
Newly signed offensive tackle Jordan Murray will make his first start at right tackle since returning to Hamilton late last week, making Brandon Kemp a healthy scratch. The 26-year-old started nine regular season games and two playoff games at both tackle positions for the Ticats in 2021, before spending last year on the practice roster of the Indianapolis Colts.
Quarterback Matthew Shiltz, who started three games for the Ticats earlier this season before going down with injury, will return to the lineup this week as the third-stringer, bumping Mike Glass III back to the practice roster. Defensive back Will Sunderland will also move to the practice roster as Lawrence Woods draws back into the lineup.
The Ticats (4-7) will visit the Redblacks (3-8) on Friday, September 8 at 7:30 p.m. EDT. This is the third and final meeting between the East Division rivals this season, with Hamilton winning each of the first two contests.
