By The Canadian Press

Source: Four CFL teams interested in Pickett after veteran linebacker released

Jan 13, 2026 | 2:32 PM

It’s always good to have options, and it appears Adarius Pickett has plenty after being released Tuesday by the Ottawa Redblacks.

The move was mutually agreed upon by both parties. Pickett, 29, was slated to become a free agent next month but the three-time East Division All-CFL selection is now free to sign with any team.

A CFL source requesting anonymity said four clubs have already expressed interest in Pickett. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity as no CFL team has signed the veteran linebacker.

The five-foot-11, 195-pound Pickett registered 164 total tackles (136 on defence), three sacks and two interceptions in 31 regular-season games over his two seasons with Ottawa. Pickett has also played for Toronto (2023) and Montreal (2021-22) during his CFL tenure.

The move comes less than a month after Ottawa acquired linebacker Nyles Morgan from the Edmonton Elks. The Redblacks also have veteran Americans Jovan Santos-Knox and Frankie Griffin, with both slated for free agency.

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Ryan Dinwiddie, Ottawa’s head coach/GM, said Monday that while the Redblacks can envision Morgan as a starter, they remain open to retaining Santos-Knox.

“Maybe we’ll be more of a three-down linebacker team with a three-down front,” he said. “We haven’t quite got there, that’s what the next month is for, but a lot of appreciation for Santos-Knox.”

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TICATS PROMOTE BAINES

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are handing their offence over to Jarryd Baines.

Baines, Hamilton’s quarterback coach, was also given the offensive co-ordinator’s duties Tuesday. Scott Milanovich served as head coach and offensive co-ordinator last season.

Hamilton also signed Canadian offensive lineman Chris Kolankowski, who was recently released by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2021-25). The 33-year-old Toronto native is a seven-year CFL veteran who began his career with the Toronto Argonauts (2017-18).

And former Ticats linebacker Devin Veresuk signed with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. The move comes a day after Hamilton released Veresuk to pursue NFL opportunities.

Veresuk, of Windsor, Ont., had 66 tackles, three special-teams tackles, two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and scored two touchdowns in being named the East Division’s top rookie last year. Hamilton selected the former University of Windsor star second overall in the ’25 CFL draft.

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LIONS, SAYLES REACH DEAL

The B.C. Lions agreed to terms with American defensive lineman Casey Sayles on a two-year contract Tuesday.

The six-foot-three, 290-pound Sayles spent three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before being released last week. An All-CFL selection in 2023, Sayles, 30, had 122 tackles, 18 sacks and a forced fumble in 51 regular-season games with the Ticats.

Sayles began his CFL career with Winnipeg (2021-22).

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BOMBERS WILL WAIT

Blue Bombers GM Kyle Walters continues to be patient with Canadian quarterback Tayler Elgersma.

Winnipeg selected the ’24 Hec Crighton Trophy winner in the second round, No. 18 overall, of last year’s CFL draft. The former Wilfrid Laurier star signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers and was among the NFL club’s final cuts in August.

Elgersma has opted to keep his NFL options open rather than sign with Winnipeg. He has attended numerous NFL workouts and was taken in the ’26 UFL draft on Monday by the Birmingham Stallions.

“He’s going to see it (NFL) to the bitter end,” Walters told reporters during a CFL video conference call. “Hopefully, if he doesn’t have an (NFL) futures contract in February, then they’ll turn their attention to the CFL.

“But they are still 100 per cent focused on getting an NFL contract.”

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LAUTHER REMAINS WITH RIDERS, FOR NOW

Veteran kicker Brett Lauther is still a member of the Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders. At least for now.

The 35-year-old native of Truro, N.S., made 39-of-54 field goal attempts (72.2 per cent) last season. That was the second-worst success ratio of Lauther’s eight-year CFL career and the worst of his seven seasons with Saskatchewan.

Lauther is reportedly due a $25,000 roster bonus Feb. 1.

“Brett didn’t have the year we had hoped, and he had hoped,” Riders GM Jeremy O’Day said. “But what we needed to do is try to weigh in kind of the entire career of how he’s played, and then where do we think it goes from here.

“Brett’s our kicker right now. We’re always trying to look at ways to improve. Whether that remains the same, we’ll have to wait and see.”

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MCMANIS, ARGOS TALKING

He’s slated to become a free agent next month, but the Toronto Argonauts and veteran linebacker Wynton McManis continue to talk.

The six-foot, 220-pound McManis registered 62 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 13 games last season. McManis has spent the last four years with the Argos, helping them win Grey Cups in 2022 and ’24.

Argos GM Mike Clemons said the club is working to extend McManis’s stay in Toronto.

“He’s a guy we’ve been in negotiations with for quite a while,” Clemons said. “Hopefully, we’ll get something done with him sooner than later.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 13, 2026.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press