Maier to make another preseason start, will be Redblacks’ Week 1 starter

Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Jake Maier will start their season opener in Week 1 against the Edmonton Elks, the team announced Thursday.

“Jake’s going to be our starter moving forward,” Redblacks head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie said on Thursday. “I told [the quarterback’s room] that four days ago, [we] just wanted to get Jake going, we feel like he’s the starting quarterback, so let’s not wait to announce it.”

The 29-year-old Maier spent last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as the backup to Trevor Harris and threw for 617 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in limited action.

Maier started Ottawa’s first preseason game against the Alouettes earlier this month, completing 10-of-14 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. He is listed as the starter for their final preseason game on Friday.

The Fullerton, Calif., native started for the Calgary Stampeders for two seasons from 2023-24 and threw for 8,085 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions.

Dru Brown was the Redblacks’ starter last season but made just 10 appearances due to injury. He passed for 2,389 yards 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in his second season at the helm for Ottawa. Dustin Crum started six games in relief of Brown and recorded 1,771 passing yards and six touchdowns while adding 429 yards on the ground and an additional 11 scores.

The Redblacks finished last season with the worst record in the CFL at 4-14.