The Ottawa Redblacks have shut down quarterback Dru Brown for the remainder of the year with just three weeks remaining on their regular season schedule.
Ottawa was eliminated from playoff contention after their loss last week to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last dropped them to 4-11.
Dustin Crum is set to take the snaps under centre for the Ottawa for the remaining three games of the year, including Monday’s Thanksgiving tilt against the Montreal Alouettes on Monday.
Similar to the Nick Arbuckle situation in Toronto, the @REDBLACKS are shutting down QB Dru Brown for the year. Dustin Crum will start Monday in Montreal.
— AJ Jakubec (@TheSuperAJ) October 9, 2025
Brown, 28, was benched in favour of Crum in the Week 18 loss after throwing his third interception of the game in the early stages of the third quarter in Friday’s loss.
“It’s sometimes in situations you’ve got to get a spark right,” Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce said on pulling his quarterback after the game. “Had to get something going.”
Brown ends his second season with the Redblacks with 2,389 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across nine games started this year.
The Palo Alto, Calif. native has missed five of his team’s 15 games this year, dealing with injuries to his hip and knee.
After leading the Redblacks to the playoffs for the first time in five years last season, Brown posted a 2-7 record when able to take the field.
The Oklahoma State product is a five-year CFL veteran, throwing for 7,832 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions for his career.
He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers behind Zach Collaros over his first three seasons in the league, before joining Ottawa last year and breaking out with 3,959 passing yards and 18 touchdowns in his first season as a starter.