Argos release Canadian OL Dariusz Bladek

The Toronto Argonauts have released Canadian offensive lineman Dariusz Bladek, per sources.

The 29-year-old guard was scheduled to hit free agency on February 13 but officially won’t be returning to The Six.

Bladek joined the Argonauts ahead of the cancelled 2020 season and has played the past three years in double blue. He started all 27 games he played through the 2021 and 2022 seasons, serving as a veteran leader during the team’s run to the 109th Grey Cup.

However, the six-foot-five, 305-pound blocker was unable to break back into the lineup in 2023 after missing the start of the season with an ankle injury. He did not dress for a single game and was a healthy scratch for the final two-thirds of the year amid a crowded offensive line room.

Bladek was originally selected 11th overall in the second round of the 2017 CFL Draft by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, playing three seasons for the team. He appeared in 45 games over that span, making 22 starts.

Born in New Jersey and raised in Florida, Bladek was eligible for Canadian citizenship through his Montreal-born mother. He played collegiately at Bethune-Cookman University from 2012 to 2015.

The Argos are slated to begin their 2024 season on Sunday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET when they host the B.C. Lions.

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