On Thursday afternoon, the Ottawa REDBLACKS announced the re-signing of offensive lineman Drew Desjarlais, inking a brand new two-year deal.
Arriving in Ottawa prior to the 2023 season, Desjarlais has started all 27 games he has appeared in with the REDBLACKS, with Head Coach Bob Dyce calling him one of the franchise’s cornerstones.
“He’s excited to be here, which makes me excited,” Dyce said. “He’s an extremely talented player, and if he got free agency, he probably would have plenty of teams looking to sign him.”
“As much as we committed to him, he’s just as committed to us. I have a strong belief that he believes things are working in the right direction here, and he wants to be a part of it.”
Thinking back on the deal he signed with the REDBLACKS back in the winter of 2022, just after he was released by the New England Patriots, it was many of the same things and principles that have kept him in the nation’s capital on a second contract.
“I signed here for the hopes of being part of the turnaround in this organization,” Desjarlais said. “In free agency, I saw such a great opportunity to come here, I saw great coaching, and I saw a great fan base in a great city to play in. It was a no-brainer to want to stay here, it’s been great.”
Though in the back of his mind, a new contract wasn’t chief among Desjarlais’ concerns at this point of the season, but it’s something he’s happy to have done.
“It took me by surprise, coming this early,” Desjarlais explained. “It wasn’t on the forefront of my mind. The goal is obviously to get extended, but you would expect that to happen as the season ends and you’re sitting at home, so it’s still kind of setting in.”
One of the factors that makes Desjarlais a player in demand is his leadership ability, which paired with his immense football talent, makes him one of the best interior offensive linemen in the entire league.
The group, even without Dino Boyd and Zack Pelehos due to injury, is a veteran-laden buch that can mostly lead themselves, but Desjarlais shares a great deal of belief with his peers, and believes they deserve as much credit as he does for the success they have felt in 2024.
“[Jacob] Ruby is an incredible veteran,” he said. “He’s played pretty much every position on the line so far this year. It seems like every game, he’s got to step in and play a big role in our success, and he’s been able to do that. It’s honestly extremely impressive.”
“Dariusz [Bladek] and I are just able to lead and help us through all the changes. We’re just trying to be together, we haven’t had a problem with that. But it really has been pretty seamless for guys to step in, and credit all the guys, for just being able to do so.”
On the field, the REDBLACKS have been handed the short end of the injury stick, and suffered their first losing streak of the season after a loss to the Montreal Alouettes. Desjarlais, though, says the team is keeping a positive mindset despite the recent setbacks.
Their magic number is still one win, and the REDBLACKS maintained their three-point lead for second place in the East Division, but the focus remains on each week, as they look to solidify their place, and point themselves on an upward trajectory ahead of the postseason.
“You understand we’re at that point of the season now, and we were looking at our record and where everyone else stands, and, of course, you want to be able to get into the playoffs,” Desjarlais explained. “As cliché and football speak as it is, it a want to win every single week mentality.”
