Ottawa Redblacks’ quarterback Dru Brown harbours no hard feelings for the hit that landed him in concussion protocol this week.
The 27-year-old was officially cleared to play on Friday after he was injured shortly before halftime of his team’s Week 5 loss on a late hit from Winnipeg strong-side linebacker Redha Kramdi. Speaking to the Ottawa media for the first time since the incident, Brown took no issue with the blow to the head, which came as he was sliding for a first down.
“I think he was just playing ball. I know Redha, we’ve broke bread together. I don’t feel any type of way,” Brown told TSN 1200.
“At the end of the day, things happen fast out there and I know him personally, so I know that he’s not a malicious dude. I also signed up for it, I signed up for the game, so he shouldn’t feel any type of way. It’s just kind of one of those things that’s unfortunate, but really happy that we were able to swiftly go through everything.”
The quarterback was unable to return to the game after the hit, which resulted in a 25-16 loss with backup Dustin Crum at the controls. Kramdi was assessed a 15-yard penalty for the play and later slapped with a maximum fine from the CFL for his actions, which amounted to $2,394 — half of his game cheque.
The Canadian defender, who was teammates with Brown in Winnipeg from 2021 to 2023, apologized in a post-game interview with 3DownNation reporter John Hodge and made it clear that he didn’t intend to hurt his former teammate. However, Brown revealed that the two players have yet to speak since the incident and that no apology was made in person.
“No, but he didn’t have to. I know him and we created a relationship when I was there,” the first-year starter stated. “It is what it is. I don’t know what he thinks, doesn’t concern me. From my end, it’s football. It just happens.”
Brown has completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 819 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception over four starts this season, helping the Redblacks off to a 2-2 start. He was initially limited in practice on Wednesday as he went through the assessments for a head injury but has since participated fully, with doctors clearing him to start in Week 6.
“We’re feeling good. We had a good week of prep. Everything checked out so I’m feeling good,” Brown said, insisting that the injury had not affected his preparation.
“It felt like just another week of getting ready to play, outside of some of the stuff that I had to do and I guess things I had to pay attention to.”
The Ottawa Redblacks (2-2) will visit the Edmonton Elks (0-4) on Sunday, July 14 at Commonwealth Stadium with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. EDT.
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