This has already been an eventful week in the CFL. As each of the league’s 9 teams approach the final week of the 2021 CFL training camp period the rosters have began to see cuts. Ottawa has only made a couple of moves here and there to trim down the Redblacks roster, however in other locker rooms where there are less positional competitions there have been a large number of cuts, including over 40 transactions made to cut down rosters around the league.
The Ottawa Redblacks released four players; defensive back David Jones, linebacker Dimitri Holloway, defensive end Samson Abbott and running back Detrez Newsome while signing linebacker Fredrick Chagnon out of the University of Montreal and activating both offensive linemen Nick Buchannan and Jack Kramer off of the suspended list. Around the CFL, the Alouettes and B.C Lions made a number of cuts including former Ottawa Redblacks William Arndt (B.C Quarterback) and Michael Wakefield (Montreal defensive tackle). Both Ranthony Texada and Kevin Brown were released by their clubs (Winnipeg, Edmonton) who each spent time in Ottawa previously, but some names that headlined Monday’s roster cuts were Naaman Roosevelt, Colton Klassen, Mathias Bockru, Reggie Corbin, Ethan Makonzo and Kayden Johnson.
Naaman Roosevelt, a 5 year CFL veteran receiver out of Buffalo University and former Buffalo Bills receiver is a 33 year old who’s name resonates well around the CFL. He has broken the 1,000 yard marker twice in his professional career, reaching 2,140 yards and 10 touchdowns on 151 catches in just 25 games over the 2016 and 2017 seasons as a part of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. During that time he averaged 86 yards per game and 6 catches per game and in his entire CFL career he has reached the 4,134 yard marker in 67 total games. Roosevelt joins former Edmonton Elk Kenny Stafford as veteran receivers available to sign. Outside of him, Canadian skill players Kayden Johnson, Colton Klassen and Mathias Bockuru were each released by their teams and headline the open market as rookies, as does Ethan Makonzo, a linebacker/safety from Montreal University who was released by the Alouettes.
With the CFL cut down date creeping up this Friday there will be more transactions to come this week, and considering the Ottawa Redblacks have yet to make a lot of decisions, a number of the cuts will come from the capital late this week but with all of the other releases happening league-wide there could also be some signings in the headlines from Ottawa.
JZ MEDIA 