Tough road ahead for Redblacks further complicated by Mauldin trade

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Redblacks showed up to work on Monday still dealing with the trade that sent defensive lineman Lorenzo Mauldin IV to Calgary.

For defensive lineman Mike Wakefield it meant explaining to his son why “Uncle Lozo” won’t be around anymore, while linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox had to say goodbye to a close friend.

“I think everyone was a little shocked and you know disappointed because we built some great relationships with Lozo,” said Santos-Knox. “He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. Just a great player, a guy you want to be playing with.”

Mauldin was traded Sunday to the Stampeders for a fourth-round pick in the 2026 CFL draft.

Through 14 games this season, Mauldin, who joined the Redblacks before the 2022 season, has recorded 26 tackles, including two tackles for loss, two sacks and three knockdowns.

In his first season with the Redblacks, Mauldin had a franchise-record 16 sacks and was named the CFL’s outstanding defensive player.

Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce had high praise for his former lineman.

“I cannot thank him enough for his time here in Ottawa,” said Dyce. “He is a player who gave everything that he had to this organization, and certainly a very tough thing to see him go. You know, it’s a shitty, sorry, that’s a tough part of this business.”

Dyce, who chose to wear his sunglasses while being interviewed indoors, took a lengthy pause before responding when asked if he had been consulted about the trade.

“Shawn (general manager Shawn Burke) and I work together on everything,” Dyce said.

With a league-worst 4-10 record the Redblacks playoff chances were already slim, and this latest move makes the road that much more difficult. Ottawa is coming off a bye week that followed a 26-18 loss to Winnipeg.

Ottawa hosts the league-leading Saskatchewan Roughriders (10-4) Friday night and needs to win all four of its remaining games if it has any hopes of salvaging the season.

Dyce said the focus for everyone right now is Friday night and not to look any further ahead.

“We have to move forward and correct the things that need to be corrected,” said Dyce. “And make sure that the things we’re doing well, we’re doing them better.”

Mauldin’s spot will be filled by 24-year-old Chase McGowan.

“From the whole time he’s been here he’s been someone we liked,” Dyce said. “He’s got a good motor. Plays a run equally as hard as he plays the pass and plays within the framework of the defence.”

With the trade deadline set for Wednesday at 3:59 p.m. ET, the Redblacks are well aware there could be additional changes to the roster.

“We focus on what’s in front of us,” Dyce said. “We’ve got a game plan that we focus on and we’re focused on making sure we get better here every day.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 29, 2025.