OTTAWA, CANADA - May 16: Ottawa RedBlacks Fanfest as part of the RedBlacks 2026 training camp on May 16, 2026 at TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by James Paddle-Grant/Freestyle Photography)
The Ottawa REDBLACKS are looking to get on the board with the first win of the 2026 season when they welcome the Toronto Argonauts to town.
The REDBLACKS will debut their new white uniforms for the contest after revealing them earlier this week. The club has dubbed this game a “Whiteout” asking fans to wear white, bring the noise and create one of the most unforgettable home atmospheres in TD Place history.
One of the off-season’s biggest stories was the REDBLACKS landing former Argos head man Ryan Dinwiddie, who took over in the nation’s capital as head coach and general manager last November.
While it might be easy to assume that the coach has had this meeting circled on his calendar since the schedule was released six months ago, coach Dinwiddie insists that he and his group are solely focused on getting in the win column after dropping the season opener on a rainy Saturday night two weeks ago.
Dinwiddie’s players echoed his sentiments, however both Greg Bell and Dan Adeboboye noted that it would be extra special to get this on for their coach.
Bell, who was a late scratch due to a neck injury before the season opener, is expected to make his season debut this week and will likely provide another element to the REDBLACKS’ offence, led by quarterback Jake Maier.
Elijah Collins, who replaced Greg Bell as the starter last week, suffered an injury in the season opener and finds himself on the six-game injured list this week as does defensive back Adrian Frye who also went down in the first game of the year.
Jeremy Lucien replaces Frye as the starter at boundary halfback. The former Vanderbilt defensive back filled in during the season opener after Frye left the contest. Rookie Shadwel Nkuba II is up from the practice roster as the backup defensive back this week.
Scouting the Opposition:
The Argos opened the season last week in Montreal after opening the new campaign on a bye. Led by rookie head coach Mike Miller, Toronto posted 30 points and 454 yards of net offence in a 37-30 loss to the Alouettes.
Chad Kelly completed 28 of his 46 pass attempts for 445 yards and three touchdowns and an interception. Newly extended Kevin Mital posted seven receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown and was joined in eclipsing the 100-yard mark by rookie teammate Tyler Kahmann who had six for 106 and a score.
A pair of former REDBLACKS will get the start in the secondary, Adarius Pickett at SAM and Rober Priester who stars at Free Safety. Former Ottawa quarterback Nick Arbuckle will serve as the backup for Saturday’s contest. Original REDBLACK Jovon Johnson will also be in town, serving as the Argos’s defensive back’s coach.
The Argos only have one change from their season opener as veteran offensive lineman Brandon Kemp gets the start at right tackle, replacing injured starter Kendall Randolph who lands on the six-game injured list.
