REDBLACKS Make Special Teams Move
The Ottawa REDBLACKS have released returner DeVonte Dedmon, the team announced, marking another roster adjustment as the CFL franchise shapes its squad for the 2026 season. Dedmon had been part of the team's special teams group, handling return duties, one of the more high-impact and scrutinized roles on any CFL roster.
Who Is DeVonte Dedmon?
Dedmon is a dynamic playmaker who carved out a role as a returner in the CFL, a position that demands quickness, field vision, and composure under pressure. Return specialists can swing field position dramatically in the fast-paced Canadian game, and their value is often underappreciated until they're gone. While his stats and full tenure with Ottawa weren't detailed in the team's announcement, his release suggests the REDBLACKS are looking in a different direction heading into training camp.
What This Means for Ottawa Fans
For Ottawa football fans, every roster move in the off-season carries weight. The REDBLACKS have been working to build a competitive team after some turbulent seasons, and special teams has historically been a unit that can either sink or save a CFL squad. Losing a returner like Dedmon opens up questions about who steps into that role, whether the team targets a free agent, promotes from within, or brings in a fresh face at training camp.
Return coverage and punt/kickoff returns might not grab headlines the way a quarterback signing does, but Ottawa fans who've sat in TD Place Stadium know just how much a big return can electrify a crowd and swing momentum. The REDBLACKS will need to address this void before the season kicks off.
Roster Building in Progress
This release is part of a broader roster-shaping process that CFL teams go through in the months leading up to training camp. Teams are constantly evaluating their depth charts, cap situations, and long-term fits, and sometimes that means moving on from players who contributed but don't fit the next chapter of the team's plan.
RedBlacks fans should expect more moves in the coming weeks as the team finalizes its 53-man roster and looks to make noise in the East Division. Whether this signals a larger special teams overhaul remains to be seen, but it's a move worth watching as Ottawa heads toward another CFL campaign at TD Place.
Stay Tuned
Ottawa sports fans can follow all REDBLACKS roster news at the team's official site and through CFL updates. Training camp is always a revealing time, new faces emerge, veterans fight for spots, and the pieces of a season start to come together.
Source: Ottawa REDBLACKS official announcement via Google News
