The Ottawa Redblacks are treating Friday's clash with the defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders as a must-win, with veteran slotback Justin Hardy calling it a potential turning point for their season. 'It's a must win. It can be a great turning point for our season. The first three games didn't go how we wanted them to go, but I think we showed a lot of great things,' Hardy said.
Hardy's breakout second half sparks offence
Through the first two-and-a-half games, Hardy caught just six passes as the winless team managed 71 points. But in the final 30 minutes of Sunday's 37-35 loss in Montreal, he hauled in seven catches for 119 yards and a touchdown, sparking a 31-point Ottawa rally that fell short. Hardy, who entered 2026 on a streak of three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, had been underutilized in new coach Ryan Dinwiddie's offence. The 34-year-old former Atlanta Falcon remained unfazed: 'There's only one ball. As long as I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, the ball will find me.'
Dinwiddie explains adjustment
Dinwiddie noted that Montreal's defence keyed on Hardy early, rolling coverage his way and leaving him without a catch in the first half. 'I think the defence took us to work,' Dinwiddie said. 'We've got a bunch of good receivers, we don't necessarily game plan for one guy; we put them in situations to get the football. We just made some good adjustments based on what they were doing. (In the first half) they were rolling the coverage to Justin, so then we started working the field and putting (throws) to the field. Then we started having success with the field throws, the throws were there for Justin.'
Key additions and injuries
Quarterback Jake Maier will have another veteran target Friday as Eugene Lewis returns from a shoulder injury that sidelined him against Montreal. Lewis will line up opposite Kalil Pimpleton at wide receiver. Replacing Lewis in Montreal was former Edmonton Elk Binjimen Victor, who caught two passes for 34 yards. However, Maier may be without Keelan White, who caught two touchdown passes against the Alouettes but is listed as a game-time decision with an ankle injury. If White cannot play, 2025 Hec Crighton winner Ethan Jones—selected by Ottawa in the sixth round of the 2025 CFL draft—is expected to make his debut at the third slotback spot alongside Hardy and Ayden Eberhardt.
Defensive changes needed
Ottawa's defence has allowed an average of more than 36 points per game and has surrendered nine 'big plays,' more than every team except Montreal, which has played four games. The Redblacks will make significant personnel changes, with Canadian safety Alonzo Addae, Canadian linebacker Lucas Cormier, and American defensive back Adrian Frye all returning from injury. The unit must improve to contain Saskatchewan's high-powered offence.
