The Ottawa Redblacks released 21 players on Saturday ahead of the CFL’s final roster cutdown, including running back Jaylen Samuels and wide receiver Maurice Ffrench.
Jaylen Samuels is six foot and weighs 225 pounds. The 28-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on April 28, 2025. In 2025, he had six carries for 31 yards, one touchdown, and four catches for 11 yards in two preseason games.
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Samuels in the fifth round (165th pick) of the 2018 NFL Draft. He played three seasons in Pittsburgh with 131 carries for 459 yards, one touchdown, 82 catches for 550 yards, four touchdowns, completing 4 of 5 passes (80%) for 35 yards, one interception, one kick return, one punt return, and one tackle (1 solo) in 42 games. The Steelers released him on October 27, 2021.
The Houston Texans signed Samuels on October 29, 2021. In 2021, he had five carries for nine yards and three catches for 14 yards in three games. He also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022. The Houston Roughnecks signed Samuels on December 8, 2023. The San Antonio Brahmas drafted Samuels in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft. The Brahmas released him on March 10, 2024.
Collegiately, Samuels played four seasons at N.C. State (2014-17) with 173 carries for 1,081 yards, 28 touchdowns, 194 catches for 1,827 yards, 18 touchdowns, completed 2 of 3 passes (67%) for 84 yards, one touchdown, 12 kick returns for 230 yards, eight tackles (4 solos, 4 assists), one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 51 games for the Wolfpack. He was named a two-time First Team All-ACC.
Maurice Ffrench is five foot eleven and weighs 200 pounds. The 26-year-old from New Brunswick, New Jersey, re-signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on November 27, 2024. In 2025, he made two catches for 26 yards in two preseason games.
The Kansas City Chiefs signed Ffrench as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2020. There were no preseason games due to the pandemic and he made the practice squad. In 2021, he made three catches for 13 yards and one kick return for 26 yards in three preseason games. The Chiefs released him on September 13, 2021.
The Los Angeles Chargers signed Ffrench on September 15, 2021. He spent the season on the practice squad. In 2022, he made one punt return for six yards in one preseason game. The Chargers released him on August 15, 2022.
Then, Ffrench signed with the Edmonton Elks on November 23, 2022. Ffrench made 15 catches for 190 yards, and one touchdown in four games for the Elks in 2023 before he was released on July 24, 2023. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Ffrench on August 2, 2023, and spent several weeks on the practice squad.
The Redblacks released him on October 29, 2023. The Redblacks released him on April 22, 2024. In 2024, he appeared in two preseason games recording no stats. He was released on October 18, 2024, and later re-signed with the Redblacks on October 21, 2024. Ottawa released him again on October 24, 2024, and would later return on October 28, 2024, spending another week on the practice squad. He was released from the practice squad on November 3, 2024.
Collegiately, Ffrench played four seasons at the University of Pittsburgh (2016-19) making 156 catches for 1,637 yards, ten touchdowns, 49 carries for 379 yards, four touchdowns, 27 kick returns for 652 yards, two touchdowns, and 28 punt returns for 164 yards in 46 games for the Panthers. He was named to the All-ACC third team in 2019.
The following players were also released. They are wide receivers Sam Schnee, Lincoln Victor, Darius Simmons, and Raidan Thorne, offensive linemen Aaron Frost and Daniel Keys, defensive linemen Ronheen Bingham, Jake Heimlicher, Deshawn Holt, and Jason Williams, linebacker Micah Cretsinger, defensive backs Shakur Brown, Woo Governor, Gavin Heslop, Craig James, and Kenyon Reed, long snapper Desmond Pelto, and punters Callum Eddings and Noah Gettman.
The following players were placed on the practice squad. They are running back Elijah Collins, wide receivers Ayir Asante, Latreal Jones, Ethan Jordan, and Andre Miller, offensive linemen Eric Miller and Isaac Moore, defensive linemen Muftah Ageli and Chase McGowan, linebacker Ayinde “Ace” Eley, and defensive back King Ambers.
