Ottawa Redblacks release starting running back Ryquell Armstead 'in best interests of team'

"We tried, as did he, to make this, to make this work, but in the end, it didn't."

Published Sep 03, 2024  •  4 minute read

Ryquell Armstead had put up 623 yards rushing, behind only Brady Oliveira, William Stanback and Ka'Deem Carey. Photo by Jeff McIntosh /The Canadian Press

Enough, apparently, was enough; the Ottawa Redblacks have dumped the CFL’s fourth-leading rusher.

In what some will see an an extremely surprising move, the Redblacks announced early Tuesday they had released running back Ryquell Armstead.

While the team is taking the high road when asked why he’s gone, Armstead didn’t do himself any favours with the team or his teammates.

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In Week 8, Armstead put the Redblacks in a tough situation when he was kicked out in the second quarter of a game against the Calgary Stampeders after taking his second objectionable conduct penalty of the game for getting into a scuffle with Branden Dozier.

Twice, he was fined by the CFL for a violation of the CFL Code of Conduct for verbal abuse.

There’s more, though the team won’t discuss the details. And the “more” had to be enough to lead to the decision to cut him.

Also understand, coaches very rarely throw a player under the bus.

“We felt this was in the best interests of the team,” said Redblacks coach Bob Dyce. “We tried, as did he, to make this, to make this work, but in the end, it didn’t.

“I truly thank him for his efforts, the energy he brought to practice and to games and for being part of our success.”

Ryquell Armstead is seen celebrating a touchdown against the Edmonton Elks on July 19, 2024. Photo by Justin Tang /The Canadian Press

With 623 yards rushing, Armstead ranked behind just Brady Oliveira, William Stanback and Ka’Deem Carey.

His replacement this week in a Saturday afternoon home game against Toronto will be either Khalan Laborn, who was in training camp with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, then spent time with the Edmonton Elks and Toronto Argos, or Jamal Morrow, whose signing was announced Tuesday.

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Laborn went to training camp with the Argos, but was cut early in June. The Redblacks signed him Aug. 11.

In 13 games for Marshall University in 2022, he rushed for 1,513 yards on 302 carries, scoring 16 touchdowns.

“(Khalan) has done a really, really nice job in the limited reps he’s gotten,” said Dyce. “He’s got great burst and twitch. Obviously, he doesn’t have the same amount of CFL experience as Jamal, but he’s shown a lot of talent and a great desire to learn and compete.”

Morrow had his best CFL season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2023. With 202 carries, he had 907 yards and four touchdowns, along with 349 receiving yards and a touchdown on 36 catches. Morrow signed with the Stampeders prior to this season, but couldn’t pass the physical and returned home to get healthy.

Morrow joined the Riders’ practice roster in 2019. In 36 CFL games, he has 1,614 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

Through 48 games with Washington State from 2014-17, he rushed 305 times for 1,765 yards and nine touchdowns, also catching 196 passes for 1,713 yards and 14 touchdowns, while returning 24 kicks for 476 yards, and 22 punts for 200 yards.

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“Jamal has had a lot of success in this league,” said Dyce. “He did some really good stuff in Saskatchewan. He’s also able to be a kickoff returner and punt returner. So, he’s got a full bag of talents. He’s aggressive, runs low and hard, and does a good job of protection.”

LOOKING BACK: When asked about Saturday’s 38-12 loss to the B.C. Lions, Dyce said: “It’s behind us. We’re excited about what the future has in store. Six of our last seven games are against Eastern teams, we control our destiny. We have Toronto this week. In coach talk, it’s a four-point game. They’re right behind us in the standings, so we have all the motivation we need.”

THE INJURY REPORT: Defensive end Bryce Carter (adductor) and returner DeVonte Dedmon (finger) left Saturday’s game and both could be out for a while. Said Dyce: “I was watching Bruce jog off, I think early in the first quarter, I called the trainer over and asked, ‘Is Bryce OK?’ How he was running looked a bit off. They took a look and he’s got a bit of a strain. We’ll see where it goes. Regrettably with regards to DeVonte, he had some scans and it looks like there’s a broken bone in there. The Dip, the top joint of his finger, got stepped on when he was in as a running back. We’re trying to figure out what the best course of action will be. He’s not going to play this week. Both guys will go on the six-game injured list. I know with (Dedmon) and his spirit, he’ll battle through it. Other than a couple of penalties, he would have had a massive game. We look for him to heal and be ready for the stretch run.” Asked for an update on receiver Jaelon Acklin (head), an observer at Tuesday’s practice, Dyce said: “I’m not a prognosticator, but I am encouraged by what we’re seeing. Seeing him out in practice without sunglasses on and being able to move around a bit is very positive.”

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THE END AROUND: The CFL Simulation gives the Redblacks a 98.86 per cent chance of making the playoffs, behind only Montreal (99.99 per cent). Ottawa, it says, has a 70.98 per cent chance of hosting a playoff game. The projection suggests, though, the Redblacks have just an 1.93 per cent chance of winning the Grey Cup (Montreal tops the list at 33.86 per cent) … The Redblacks have also released DB Elijah Blades and signed DB C.J. Coldon (Oklahoma).

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