Reasons to think Ottawa Redblacks (1-6) might beat Calgary Stampeders (5-2) again

Calgary Herald

31-07-2025

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Desperate to rediscover a winning combination, head coach Bob Dyce will roll what he hopes is a lucky seven roster changes into Thursday's return from a bye week to face the Calgary Stampeders.
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While Dru Brown will start at quarterback after getting his bell rung by a high hit early in the second quarter of the team's last game — a 30-15 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 20 — three of the seven players coming off the injured list are Canadians.
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Two of them will be making their season debut: Veteran centre Peter Godber, who was signed last winter as a free agent, and third-year defensive lineman Aidan John, who made an impact as a backup last season.
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Also returning from injury are three American starters — receiver Bralon Addison, linebacker Frankie Griffin and cornerback C.J. Coldon — as well as Global defensive lineman Blessman Ta'ala.
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Only one of the outgoing players (veteran Canadian defensive tackle Cleyon Laing) will take a seat because he's injured.
One other change the Redblacks have to make is in the outcome of their games.
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They have lost their last four, and with a record of 1-6, they sit last in the CFL standings.
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If the playoffs started today, both Ottawa and the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts (2-5) would be on the outside looking in, while the B.C. Lions (3-5) would cross over from the West Division to take the third and final spot in the East.
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The Redblacks, whose only victory was by a 20-12 count on a cold, windy and rainy June 21 in Calgary, will try to make it two in a row against a 5-2 Stampeders team that this time will be missing injured starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. and playing its fourth game in 19 days.
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Ottawa is rested and should be hungry for its first home win of the season.
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'I think for (the players) to get away was important, to clear their minds, but at the same time for us as coaches to analyze what we're doing well, and what we need to do better,' said Dyce. 'The first thing I talked to them about is that coming in here is a special thing. And to get back at the opportunity to come out here and play on Thursday night is something that we all cherish. So being away from it a little bit, if you want to say, rekindles that fire and gets it burning a little bit hotter.'
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The Redblacks are in Toronto to face the Argos a week from Saturday, so if they're going to claw their way back into contention for a playoff spot, now's the time to do it.