The defending champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers continued to roll in Week 7 of the Canadian Football League, while the Saskatchewan Roughriders got back in the win column. As Wek 8 begins the East Division remains up for grabs. First up it’s the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ottawa Redblacks Wednesday night.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-3) vs. Ottawa RedBlacks (1-4)
The Tiger-Cats come into this game having won three of their last four, starting the season 0–2. The Redblacks are heading in the opposite direction.
Ottawa was the victim of a 22-point loss to the Als and currently is last in the league in points per game scoring more than 20 only once in five games.
One bright spot for Ottawa this season has been Devonte Dedmon, who has seven kick returns for 211 yards, amounting to a 30.1-yard average in four games. He is set to return from a calf injury this week. The RedBlacks lead the league in kick return yards, but that’s the only offensive category they own.
Hamilton has been dealt some injury blows as well. The top two quarterbacks on the depth chart, Jeremiah Masoli and Dane Evans, have gone down with injuries leaving third-stringer David Watford to get his first career start against Calgary last week. Read the entire injury report here.
Watford was an impressive 19 of 22 passing, but most of those were short efforts or dumps to the flat, producing 149 yards and no touchdowns. The Hampton University product also ran 10 times for 35 yards, getting himself out of trouble more than once, and impressing his coach.
“Just poise. Toughness. Able to overcome adversity,” Orlando Steinauer said. “There’s just so much that goes into playing the toughest position on the football field that I was impressed with.”
Steinauer will start Watford again on Wednesday.
Tiger-Cats receiver and reigning Most Outstanding Player recipient Brandon Banks was limited in practice on Monday and will not play Wednesday, while Bralon Addison did not participate at all.
Storylines to watch: Don Jackson will not play Wednesday and Sean Thomas-Erlington will be a game-time decision, which likely won’t help the struggling Cats offence that sits last in the league in total yards per game and sixth in rushing yards.
The Redblacks are coming off a bye and the Tiger-Cats are dealing with a short turnaround and injuries. If Ottawa can take advantage of this, they could score just enough points to squeak out a victory.