The Ottawa Redblacks will be debuting an exciting new receiving prospect when they take on the Edmonton Elks this week.
Veteran Bralon Addison (Achilles) has been placed on the one-game injured list, making room for rookie Kalil Pimpleton to make his regular season CFL debut. Addison has caught 11 passes for 104 yards through four games but the team is extremely high on his five-foot-seven replacement, who caught seven passes for 101 yards in two preseason outings.
Pimpleton began his college career at Virginia Tech before transferring to Central Michigan, catching 170 passes for 2,131 yards and 12 touchdowns in 33 games while adding 39 carries for 299 yards and five more scores. The 24-year-old speedster was also a threat in the return game, fielding 48 punts for 568 yards and winning MAC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2021 after returning two for touchdowns.
The lightning-quick rookie will get to catch passes from starting quarterback Dru Brown, who cleared concussion protocol on Friday after leaving the team’s Week 5 loss to Winnipeg with a head injury.
Defensively, the Redblacks will be without starting weak-side linebacker Frankie Griffin (hip) this week. He’ll be replaced by Davion Taylor, a former third-round NFL draft pick who has three defensive tackles and six special teams tackles so far this year. American rookie Bennett Williams has been added to the roster as depth.
Backup Canadian defensive back Justin Howell (calf) is also headed to the one-game injured list, while veteran Canadian defensive end and core special teamer Nigel Romick (hamstring) has been placed on the six-game injured list. Homegrown role players Ty Cranston and Deshawn Stevens have been activated to fill those roles.
The Ottawa Redblacks (2-2) will visit the Edmonton Elks (0-4) on Sunday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
