
Ottawa Redblacks' linebacker Adarius Pickett back to being his disruptive self
The veteran linebacker was enjoying a solid first campaign with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2024 before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury. But the 28-year-old has returned with a vengeance, currently standing second in the CFL in defensive plays and tied for fourth in tackles.
'That was the goal going through rehab,' Pickett said. 'I had an amazing team I was working with in Los Angeles and I'm just thankful to everyone who chipped in to helping me get back to where I am right now.'
The five-foot-11, 195-pound Pickett had 52 tackles, 14 special-teams tackles, a sack, forced fumble and interception last season before being injured in Ottawa's 37-21 road loss to Hamilton on Sept. 14. The Redblacks entered that game with an 8-3-1 record and battling Montreal for top spot in the East but lost five of their final six regular-season games to finish third.
Despite the injury, Pickett was named an East Division all-star. He signed a one-year extension with Ottawa in January, which allowed the former UCLA Bruin to concentrate fully on his recovery.
After starting his rehab slowly, Pickett progressed to multiple workouts daily five, sometimes six times per week. Pickett began those days getting up around 4 a.m. and often worked out at UCLA with a group that included DeShaun Foster, a former NFL running back who's now the Bruins' head coach.
Pickett performed various drills under the watchful eye of John Johnson Jr., a former UCLA defensive back whose younger brother, Jaylon, is a cornerback with the Chicago Bears.
'I had no doubts when I got to camp because I'd put in so much work (during rehab),' Pickett said. 'My physical therapist Dr. Tim (Esguerra) was the guy I worked with in L.A. and he had answers to every question I had and pushed me every day to where I was confident walking into camp.
'When I got there, it was about working to get into football shape pretty much like everyone else in camp. Getting after it on a daily basis in the off-season and putting my body through many of the things you do during camp, I was better able to enjoy myself and being with my team.'
Pickett is in his fifth CFL season and second with Ottawa. Entering this week's action, he has 32 tackles (three for loss), six special-teams tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Pickett is second overall in total defensive plays (43) and tied four forth in tackles. The Berkeley, Calif., native was the East Division's top defensive player with Toronto in 2023 (105 tackles, 19 special-teams tackles, six interceptions and forced fumble).
Ottawa (1-5), however, hasn't enjoyed a solid a start to its season. The Redblacks have dropped three straight heading into their home game Sunday night versus Hamilton (3-2).
The Ticats defeated Ottawa 23-20 last week. Hamilton won the turnover battle 4-1 and secured the victory on Bo Levi Mitchell's three-yard TD strike to Kenny Lawler with 1:54 remaining.
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Mitchell's second touchdown pass to Lawler capped a 50-yard, six-play drive that was kept alive by a roughing-the-passer penalty against the Redblacks on a second-down incompletion. Earlier in the quarter, Ottawa appeared to go ahead 27-13 on Kalil Pimpleton's 105-yard punt return but it was negated by an illegal block penalty.
Not long after, Hamilton's Mack Bannatyne's recovered Pimpleton's fumbled punt return at the Redblacks 15-yard line. Although the Ticats turned the ball over on downs at the four-yard line with 5:12 remaining, their defence forced Ottawa to punt three plays later which gave Mitchell and Co. an opportunity to mount the game-winning drive.
'We've struggled to play a complete game,' Pickett said. 'Teams are finding a way to get it done against us so we've got to find a way to get it done as well.
'The players in the building believe in the team we have. I believe we'll get this thing turned around … it's really on us to go out there and take what we want.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2025.

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Canada News.Net
10 hours ago
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MLB roundup: Cal Raleigh, M's end Brewers' 11-game win streak
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National Post
19 hours ago
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Many CFL teams enter week with questions at quarterback position
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Winnipeg Free Press
21 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Many CFL teams enter the week with questions at quarterback position
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Brown was replaced by Dustin Crum, who finished 16-of-22 passing for 149 yards and an interception while rushing six times for 43 yards. He completed six-of-eight attempts for 66 yards and an interception before leaving the contest. Brown had missed three previous starts this season with a hip injury. Ottawa's lone win, a 20-12 decision over Calgary on June 21, came with Crum under centre. But at least Brown has time to recover. Many other CFL teams enter the week with questions at quarterback as they prepare for upcoming games. Davis Alexander's quest for a record-setting ninth straight win to start a CFL career is on hold. The Montreal Alouettes placed the 26-year-old American on the six-game injured list after he aggravated a hamstring ailment in their 26-25 comeback win over the Toronto Argonauts on Thursday night. Alexander's 10-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter capped Montreal's comeback from a 25-7 deficit. But as he scored, Alexander grabbed the back of his leg. He remained on the field for Montreal's unsuccessful two-point convert attempt. Alexander had just returned after missing the Alouettes previous two contests with the injury. With Alexander out, veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson is expected to again be Montreal's starter after serving in that capacity during Alexander's two-game absence. The Alouettes visit Calgary (5-1) on Thursday night. Meanwhile, in Toronto, the Chad Kelly watch continues. The CFL's outstanding player in 2023 hasn't played this season as he recovers from a leg injury suffered in last year's East Division final. Kelly was again a limited practice participant Tuesday. Nick Arbuckle, who earned MVP honours in Toronto's '24 Grey Cup victory over Winnipeg, has started all six of the Argos regular-season contests in 2025. Arbuckle has completed 150-of-210 passes (71.4 per cent) for 1,691 yards with nine TDs and eight interceptions but has been sacked a CFL-high 16 times this season. Toronto (1-5) has dropped two straight games. Its offence stands eighth in net yards (308 per game) and last in both rushing (46.7 yards) and most sacks allowed (16). Toronto hosts Winnipeg (3-2) on Saturday night and it looks like the Argos will face Bombers starter Zach Collaros. Collaros left Winnipeg's 41-20 loss last week to Calgary with a upper-body injury. On Tuesday, the 36-year-old was a full participant in practice with what the Bombers listed as a neck ailment. Collaros had completed eight-of-11 passes for 151 yards with a TD and two interceptions versus Calgary. He was replaced by veteran Chris Streveler. Collaros missed Winnipeg's season-opening 34-20 win over B.C. due to suspension. Streveler threw for 246 yards and three TDs with an interception in that contest. And in Edmonton, incumbent Tre Ford and veteran backup Cody Fajardo split starting reps in practice. The Elks (1-4) come off the bye week preparing to visit Saskatchewan (5-1) on Friday night. Ford, of Niagara Falls, Ont., has started all five of Edmonton's game thus far. The six-foot, 192-pound Ford has completed 82-of-121 passes (67.8 per cent) for 984 yards with five TDs and three interceptions while rushing 16 times for 152 yards (9.5-yard average) and a touchdown. Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Mike McIntyre | On Sports Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Edmonton stands eighth in offensive points scored (22.0 per game) and is tied for last with Ottawa in offensive TDs (12). The Elks sport the CFL's fourth-best ground game (106.8 yards per game) but are last in passing (218.2) and net offence (300.2 yards). Most teams have had to deal with quarterback questions as Ford, Arbuckle, Hamilton's Bo Levi Mitchell and Calgary's Vernon Adams Jr. are the only ones to have started all of their teams' games. Yet the league's overall quarterback rating is 97.4 compared to 96.9 last season and 93.9 in 2023. And over the last three weeks, CFL teams are averaging a combined 765 net offensive yards per game. Overall, this season's average is 729 yards, down from 733 in 2024 but ahead of 702 in 2023. CFL teams are also scoring an average of 53 points per game, up 2.3 per cent from 2024. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025.