Dru Brown is being shut down. Read MoreBackup Dustin Crum will start Sunday’s game in Montreal
Backup Dustin Crum will start Sunday’s game in Montreal
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Dru Brown is being shut down.
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Officially eliminated from playoff contention with three games remaining on their schedule, the Ottawa Redblacks have decided to shelf their oft-injured No. 1 quarterback for the rest of the season.
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Backup Dustin Crum will start Sunday’s game in Montreal.
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Matt Shiltz, who hasn’t played since he was picked off three times in a Week 2 loss to the Alouettes, will also be available. It’s expected that Tyrie Adams, whose last appearance was in 2023, will also suit up.
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Brown, who has started nine and finished six of Ottawa’s 15 games, returned from a knee injury that kept him out for than a month when the Redblacks faced the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Oct. 3 with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
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After throwing his third interception of the night in the third quarter, he was benched in favour of Crum as the Redblacks went on to lose 20-13.
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Brown was a DNP (did not participate) in practice this week with “knee” listed as the reason.
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The Redblacks have considered the 28-year-old Brown their quarterback of the future. Before this season, they gave him a one-year contract extension that, according to 3DownNation, is worth $462,500 in hard money with a maximum possible value of $471,500.
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But while he has shown flashes of brilliance, he has also been flawed.
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Along with completing 196 of 274 passes (71.5 per cent) for 2,389 yards and 14 touchdown passes, he has also been picked off 10 times.
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In six starts and three relief appearances, Crum has connected on 147 of 205 throws (71.7 per cent) for 1,609 yards, six TDs and just two interceptions.
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Is there more to shutting down Brown than simply giving him time to heal?
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With less than two years of experience as a starting CFL quarterback, he could use as many reps as he can get, even in meaningless games.
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Crum, who has been with the Redblacks since 2023, was given another one-year contract last January.
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Along with his exceptional ball carrying (a 5.5-yard average on 71 attempts, along with a league-leading 11 touchdowns), the 26-year-old Crum has shown progression when it comes to his play-readying and passing skills.
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After the Saskatchewan game, when asked if he feels he’s proven ready to become a full-time starter in the league, Crum replied:
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“I would say most people would feel that I probably took steps towards that. Obviously, there’s only nine spots, so whether a spot would open up, or something like that would happen … obviously, some things would have to align, but I would say I felt like I took steps in the right direction towards that goal.”
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The remaining three games will provide Crum the opportunity to take more steps.
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