Ottawa Redblacks release starter C.J. Coldon, one other

Photo: Ottawa Redblacks

The Ottawa Redblacks have released American defensive back C.J. Coldon and Canadian linebacker Zachary Philion ahead of training camp.

Coldon played 17 games last season, starting all of them at cornerback.  The 27-year-old amassed 55 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, three interceptions, and a forced fumble.

The native of Belleville, Ill., originally signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2024 but was released as part of final roster cuts. He signed with Ottawa that September, playing one game where he produced seven defensive tackles and a forced fumble.

The five-foot-ten, 186-pound cover man signed with the Minnesota Vikings after going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft and spent time on their practice roster. He was named an All-Big 12 honourable mention in 2022 at the University of Oklahoma and second-team All-Mountain West in 2021 while attending the University of Wyoming.

Philion played three games for the Redblacks in 2025, making two special teams tackles. He was originally a seventh-round pick of Ottawa in the 2024 CFL Draft, but was released shortly after the season began and spent time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, making one special teams tackle in three games

The 27-year-old made 98 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, 11 pass breakups, two interceptions, and one forced fumble over 27 collegiate games at Concordia University. He previously played at New Mexico Military Institute, where he made nine tackles, one interception, and two pass breakups.

The native of Buffalo, N.Y., is the son of longtime CFL defensive lineman Ed Philion.

The Ottawa Redblacks were the CFL’s most active team in free agency, adding players like quarterback Jake Maier, running back Greg Bell, offensive lineman Martez Ivey, defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado, linebacker A.J. Allen, strong-side linebacker C.J. Reavis, and defensive back Demerio Houston. The team also had a few key departures, including quarterback Dustin Crum (Montreal Alouettes), strong-side linebacker Adarius Pickett (Toronto Argonauts), and return specialist DeVonte Dedmon (Montreal Alouettes).

The Redblacks hold the first overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. The team will play its first preseason game against the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, May 22, and its first regular-season game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, June 6.

In 2025, Ottawa finished fourth in the East Division standings with a 4-14 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Ryan Dinwiddie was hired as the team’s head coach and general manager after the firing of Bob Dyce.