THE REPLACEMENTS: Morrow, Laborn look to step in as Ottawa Redblacks' running back

After Ottawa released starting running back Ryquell Armstead on Tuesday, Jamal Morrow or Khalan Laborn, maybe both, will suit up for the Redblacks on Saturday afternoon against Toronto.

Published Sep 04, 2024  •  5 minute read

Running back Jamal Morrow has signed with the Ottawa Redblacks. Photo by Tim Baines /Postmedia

The question to be answered over the next couple of days: Who’s the starting running back for the Ottawa Redblacks?

For Jamal Morrow, it’s another CFL opportunity, a chance to take it up a notch from where he was last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

For Khalan Laborn, it’s his third opportunity to crack a CFL game-day roster — after spending time in Toronto and Edmonton — and he’s hoping this is the make-it moment.

Article content

After Ottawa released starting running back Ryquell Armstead on Tuesday, Morrow or Laborn, maybe both, will suit up for the Redblacks on Saturday afternoon at home against the Toronto Argonauts.

The Redblacks announced Tuesday they had signed the 29-year-old Morrow, who had his best CFL season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2023. With 202 carries, he had 907 yards rushing and four touchdowns, along with 349 receiving yards and a touchdown on 36 catches.

After having wrist surgery in December, Morrow signed with the Calgary Stampeders prior to this season, but failed the physical and returned home to get healthy. He was finally medically cleared to play last week.

“Having the injury, I was just working on getting better,” he said. “You can’t rush things. It’s not the first time I’ve had to wait and be patient for an injury to heal.

“I stayed ready and waited for a call. Now, I’m here and ready to go.”

Two years ago, Morrow had a wrist injury that wasn’t healing; he played through it last season.

“If you’re a dog, you’re a dog. That was a mindset,” said Morrow. “I don’t like making excuses.”

Article content

While waiting back home in California — Menifee, north of San Diego — he was hoping a call from a CFL team would come. He was watching CFL games, keeping track of what was going on.

“A couple of teams reached out throughout my process of getting healthy,” he said. “I had faith, I wasn’t worried. It wasn’t like I was sitting there thinking, ‘Ooh, do I need to get a job?’ My thing was taking care of myself and getting healthy, then everything else would take care of itself. I believe I can still play at a high level.”

Through 48 games with Washington State from 2014-17, Morrow 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. The versatility to be able to return kicks should, on its own, get him a roster spot Saturday.

Asked about the kind of player he is, Morrow said: “I’m a consistent guy. I’ve proven I can block, run and catch the ball. Anything the team needs me to do, I’ll do it.”

Funny enough, he’d never been to Ottawa. When the Riders came to the nation’s capital, he was either injured or on the practice roster.

Article content

He says learning the playbook quickly won’t be a problem.

“When I was Saskatchewan, I had three different co-ordinators in four years,” said Morrow. “When you’re halfway through the season, it’s a bit different. But, for the most part, it’s the same concepts. You work on getting the legs back right and the playbook comes just fine.”

Also hoping to work his way onto the game-day roster is Laborn, who was in training camp with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, then spent time with the Edmonton Elks and Toronto Argonauts. Laborn was part of the big trade that sent receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. and Toronto’s seventh-round pick in the 2024 CFL Draft to Edmonton for defensive lineman Jake Ceresna and Laborn.

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.

“I’ve been waiting a long time,” he said. “My family always told me, the people that I trust in my life always told me, stay ready. This is huge for me.”

Asked about grinding it out and battling through adversity, Laborn said: “It’s difficult, but you can’t put a chip on your shoulder. No one’s going to feel sorry for you. No one’s going to hold your hand. Stay ready, stay locked in mentally. You take it on the chin and just keep working every day to get better.”

Article content

He was caught off guard when he was told Armstead had been released.

“I was shocked, I haven’t seen anything like that before,” he said. “The coaches told me it’s next man is up and I’m ready. I’ve been here for five weeks, now there’s an opportunity. I’m ready to show what I can do.”

Asked what kind of player he is, Laborn said: “I’m an all-purpose back — someone who can pancake somebody and also catch the ball and run down the field.”

PENALTY PROBLEMS: Redblacks coach Bob Dyce wasn’t happy with the 12 penalties (for 144 yards) Ottawa took in Saturday’s 38-12 loss to the B.C. Lions. Said Dyce: “I wouldn’t say it’s worrisome, but it’s bothersome. Look at us on special teams, we took five of the 12 penalties. We hadn’t taken a penalty (on specials) the previous two weeks; we were the least-penalized special-teams unit in the league. It’s a little disappointing. Whether I agree with all the calls or not is another matter. We have to eliminate the preventable penalties — the offsides, the illegal procedures. When you you’re trying to score points and you’re moving backwards, it’s very challenging to overcome those things.”

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN SIGNED: The Redblacks have signed defensive lineman Andrew Chatfield (Oregon State). Most recently in mini-camp with the Kansas City Chiefs, Chatfield played for Oregon State from 2022-23. In 25 games, he had 48 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions. Prior to that, Chatfield spent two years at Florida.

Recommended from Editorial

1. 

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

2. 

   'THIS WON'T DEFINE US': Ottawa Redblacks look to bounce back from loss to B.C. Lions

Article content