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Eugene Lewis of the Ottawa Redblacks makes a catch for a touchdown against the Edmonton Elks during a CFL game in Edmonton on July 6, 2025. Photo by JASON FRANSON /THE CANADIAN PRESS
For the Ottawa Redblacks to enter their bye week with a much-needed victory in a game on which their season might hinge, they have to prevent the CFLs top receiver from beating them for the second time in eight days.
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And they have to do it with a second starting cornerback gone from their injury-depleted secondary.
But there is a game within the game that could go a long way in determining the outcome of the Redblacks showdown with the East Division-leading Hamilton Tiger-Cats at TD Place on Sunday evening.
It also features Kenny Lawler, who is either Hamiltons most dangerous offensive weapon or ranks as 1A with quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.
In five games, Lawler has 30 catches for 578 yards, which not only leads the league but is more than 200 more yards than the next most productive receiver (Winnipegs Nic Demski) of those who have only played five games.
With seven touchdowns, he already has set a career high in touchdowns for one season.
In the Tiger-Cats 23-20 victory over Ottawa last Saturday at Hamilton Stadium, Lawler caught six passes for 95 yards and a pair of TDs.
The first one, on a spectacular 44-yard scoring hook-up with Mitchell, was against air-tight coverage provided by corner C.J. Coldon, who will miss the second of the back-to-back series with an ankle injury.
Coldon will be replaced on the boundary or weakside of the field by Alijah McGhee, who was filling in for injured corner Adrian Frye (knee) on the strongside.
Stepping into Fryes job this week will be Deandre Lamont, who is usually a halfback and will be playing his first game of the season after missing the first six with a hamstring issue.
But while McGhee will be tasked with covering Lawler, Redblacks receiver Eugene (Geno) Lewis also sees himself with a prominent role.
He wants to be the pass-catcher people are talking about after the game.
Were both Top 3, Top 4 in the league, Lewis said Saturday after his teams walk-through. Hes a great player. Hes one of the best players in this league. Hes one of the top receivers. I look at me and him as being in a different category, because weve been doing it for so long and so consistently. Every time I play him and he plays me, its a competition, too. If I see him make a crazy catch, I want to make a crazy catch too.
Last week, Lewis had seven catches for 128 yards, but he was kept out of the end zone. But having the better numbers was a small consolation to him, as Hamilton moved into first in the East Division with a 3-2 record and Ottawa dropped to last in the CFL at 1-5.
This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.At the end of the day, he got the win &. whoever wins, its kind of like, oh yeah, they did this and they did that, said Lewis, who ranks fourth among CFL receivers with 422 yards on 30 catches while sharing the league lead in targets with 52 but only describes his season as solid so far. I think youve got to put it in perspective. If you ask other receivers, they would be like: I wish I had 52 targets. (But) obviously were not winning, so personally, I dont think its a good season, whether Im having a good season myself or not. Im going to do what I do regardless. On every team that Im on, I still do what I do, but Im trying to find a way to do that and win at the same time.
You can have all the yards, you can have all the touchdowns, you can have all the individual accolades and all that stuff, but if you lose the game and youre happy after that, I dont really respect that, because we still didnt do enough to win. Youre just worried about the individual part. I get it, I get how it helps people and this and that, but for me, I just want to keep doing my job, and I want to keep being able to make the plays that I can.
And on Sunday, not only does he want to make one more game-defining play than Lawler, but it feels like he has to if his team is going to snap out of a three-game losing streak that, if its allowed to grow, could lead to a disastrous 2025 for the Redblacks.
Kenny Lawler of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats catches a pass against the Ottawa Redblacks during a CFL game in Hamilton on July 12, 2025. Photo by GEOFF ROBINS /THE CANADIAN PRESS When the Tiger-Cats attacked free agency over the winter by signing Lawler, a former Winnipeg Blue Bomber, to a two-year deal, the Redblacks kept up with the Joneses by inking Lewis, who had been with Edmonton, a week later.
According to 3DownNation, Lawler is the top-paid receiver in the league with a deal that has a maximum value of $303,000 per season.
Lewis is listed as sixth, with a maximum value of $226,000.
In between at third is Justin Hardy, a five-season, 33-year-old Redblacks vet who opted to re-sign in Ottawa rather than test the free agent waters.
Hardy, who was second in the CFL with 1,343 yards and is regarded as the best possession receiver in the league, reportedly has a maximum value salary of $232,000.
Lewis says he and Lawler now have to live up to the responsibilities with others who play the position.
For me and Kenny, thats how we keep the wide receiver position going, like where the market is and things like that, he said. Its up to us to keep doing well, so we can keep helping these young guys, these young receivers, keep getting money. Thats part of what it is. We want to make sure that, as a collective group, a union, as a receiver group, we want everybody to get money too, and keep getting more money. Thats what this is about, and thats how you can tell if youre getting better. Thats how you can tell who you are as a player. Thats how you can compare yourself individually, and thats how you know you can help yourself when it comes to negotiations and stuff.
Apparently, the two or three very catchable passes that slipped through his hands in the first third of the season.
Ive got a couple of drops (and) Ive got to definitely take them out of the season, he said. Thats something that nobody can tell me but myself. Thats all me, thats just about focus, just about locking in, and just playing the game. So at the end of the day, Im going to do what I do, like if Im top three, top five in the league right now.
I brought it up, but yall were thinking about it, Lewis told the three reporters in the scrum Saturday. Nobody forgets about it. I did bring it up, but Im saying I could tell people are thinking about it. People all see it, so it means they think about it, but they dont want to say nothing, because it might come off mean.
Thats what I said. How did I drop it? said Lewis. You cant do that. They brought me here to not do those types of things, and I dont expect to drop the ball. But Ive just got to go out there, and say, man, and I cant let one drop turn into three drops. If I had one drop on the day I need to have six catches. Thats how I look at it. If I have a drop, I try to find a way to forget that drop. I say, thats fine, now I have to have a bigger play to forget their drop. I keep making up for it. So thats how I do it.
I got a lot of respect for all of them, said Brown. You see very similar things with all of them. You know, I think theres a lot of talent in both (Hamiltons and Ottawas) rooms. Not just those guys, but kind of looking all the way down, theres a lot of talent. So its always fun to watch, maybe not when youre playing them, but as the quarterback and them being on the same page, and the anticipation that can be seen on tape. Its always kind of cool to see that. And I think thats something that, despite the wins and losses, thats something that I always love seeing. Growth in our room is being able to throw out well before theyre there, and them having an understanding of where they need to be.
Its like the catch Justin made (in the same game), we kind of just moved along, because weve all seen it before. You obviously appreciate it in the aftermath. But you know, Kennys the same way. Ive seen it a bunch of times. I remember throwing a terrible ball to him in practice, and he was able to come down with it, stuff. Justin and Geno do stuff like that. All those high-level guys, they do those things. You definitely try to appreciate it, because theyre special.
With a guy like Kenny, man, you know hes going to go up for the ball, and youve just got to go up for the ball too, he said. You try to be as penalty-free as you can be, and just play the ball.
Of course, I thrive on those challenges. Who wouldnt want the ball to be coming to them? Its an opportunity for me as well. To catch an interception, to get a knockdown, and to help the team out as best I can. So, of course, I love those challenges.
As reported earlier this week, former Carlton Raven Justin Howell will come off the injured list to make his season debut as backup safety to American Bennett Williams, while Canadian Lucas Cormier starts at WILL linebacker. Canadian rookie Muftah Ageli (head) returns to figure in the mix on the defensive line.
On the offensive line, American Parker Moorer, who impressed at right tackle two games ago, returns to start at right guard ahead of veteran Canadian Dariusz Bladek. Former NFLer Easop Winston Jr., who was signed last week, will dress as the backup return specialist behind Kalil Pimpleton.
Our mindset is, we need to win, and weve done everything to prepare to put ourselves in the best position to do that, said Dyce. I know these guys are hungry for victory. Coaches are hungry for victory. The city is hungry for a victory. Our plan is to have one out on the field here.
