The Ottawa Redblacks will be without their best offensive playmaker when they fact off against the Montreal Alouettes on Thanksgiving Day.
Receiver Justin Hardy has been ruled out for the contest due to an ankle injury. The 32-year-old former NFLer entered this week second in the CFL in receiving yardage, having caught 90 passes for 1,241 yards and four touchdowns. Since joining the Redblacks in 2022, he has appeared in 40 games and racked up 219 receptions for 2,666 yards and seven majors, earning East Division all-star honours in 2023.
Hardy will be replaced by rookie Andre Miller, who has caught 10 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns in four games this year. Veteran backup Jeremiah Masoli will get his third start of the season under centre, with franchise quarterback Dru Brown still nursing an ankle injury.
Defensively, the Redblacks will get two impactful defensive starters back in action with the returns of cornerback Brandin Dandridge and weak-side linebacker Frankie Griffin. Dandridge has notched 19 tackles and two interceptions in just six games this year, while Griffin has made 51 defensive tackles in 10 appearances. National safety Yani Gouadfel and American corner C.J. Coldon have been demoted to the practice roster to make room.
The Ottawa Redblacks (8-6-1) will visit the Montreal Alouettes (11-3-1) on Monday, October 14 at 1:00 p.m. EDT.
Graphic courtesy: Ottawa Redblacks
