Nyles Morgan, the Ottawa Redblacks' middle linebacker, leads the CFL in total tackles (31), defensive tackles, and tackles for loss, making him a standout on an 0-4 team. As the Redblacks prepare to face the Edmonton Elks on Thursday, Morgan will face his former squad for the first time since being acquired in a trade this offseason.
Morgan's Impact on a Struggling Defense
Despite the Redblacks' winless start, Morgan has been a bright spot. His 31 tackles are nearly double the next closest teammate, Bennett Williams, who had 17 before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury on Friday against Saskatchewan. After Williams, former Roughriders linebackers A.J. Allen and C.J. Reavis have 16 each. Morgan's performance has drawn comparisons to Chicago Bears greats Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, whom he idolized growing up in Chicago.
“I would say, yeah, so far,” Morgan said when asked about his self-evaluation. “I’ve been adapting well to my new defence and my new teammates, and I’ve been doing really well so far.”
How the Redblacks Acquired Morgan
After deciding not to re-sign veteran Jovan Santos-Knox, new head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie traded a third- and fourth-round pick to the Elks for a third, a fifth, and Morgan. Essentially, Dinwiddie dropped eight spots over two rounds in the April draft to obtain a player who tied for the league lead in defensive tackles in 2024 before an injury sidelined him for the final seven games.
“Nyles is a player who I’ve enjoyed watching from afar over the past several seasons,” Dinwiddie said at the time, “and I’m excited to have him as a key piece of our defence moving forward.”
Santos-Knox, three years older than Morgan, signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a free agent but suffered a season-ending injury on Day 1 of training camp.
Other Bright Spots for Ottawa
Beyond Morgan, kicker Brett Lauther has been perfect, converting all 13 field-goal attempts, including three from over 40 yards and one from beyond 50. Kalil Pimpleton leads the league in kickoff return yards (515) and combined kick-punt return yards (868).
Morgan, who played four seasons at Notre Dame and five with the Elks, is eager to face his former team. “I’ve been adapting well,” he reiterated, as the Redblacks aim to bust out of their slump.
