Ottawa REDBLACKS Add Depth at Linebacker
Ottawa's REDBLACKS are continuing to build their roster for the 2026 CFL season, announcing the signing of national linebacker A.J. Allen. The move adds Canadian depth to a defensive unit that will be looking to make a stronger push after a tough 2025 campaign.
Allen joins the REDBLACKS as a national (Canadian) player, which carries added roster value under CFL rules that require a minimum number of national starters on every team. Locking up quality Canadian linebackers gives coaching staff more flexibility in how they dress their lineup from week to week.
What Allen Brings to the Defence
Linebackers are the engine of any CFL defence — responsible for stopping the run, dropping into coverage, and getting pressure off the edge. Adding a Canadian player at that position is particularly valuable, as it frees up import slots elsewhere on the roster for skill positions where the talent pool is deeper internationally.
Allen's signing signals that Ottawa's front office is actively working to shore up the team's defensive depth chart in the off-season, building competition at every level of the unit.
Building Toward 2026
The REDBLACKS have been busy reshaping the roster heading into training camp, and Allen is the latest piece of that puzzle. Ottawa fans have been hungry for the team to return to the form that earned them Grey Cup appearances, and moves like this — adding experienced Canadian talent — are the foundation of a competitive CFL roster.
TD Place on Bank Street will host another season of REDBLACKS football, and the home crowd will be watching closely to see how the rebuilt defence performs when the regular season kicks off.
Stay tuned to ottown.ca for the latest REDBLACKS roster news and coverage throughout the 2026 CFL season.
Source: Ottawa REDBLACKS / Google News
