Photo courtesy: Ottawa Redblacks
If Kalil Pimpleton had it his way, he might never leave the football field.
The 27-year-old speedster has been one of the Ottawa Redblacks’ top receivers over the last two seasons, making 113 grabs for 1,437 yards and four touchdowns over 26 games. Though it remains unclear if he’ll get a chance to return kicks in 2026, it’s a role he relishes.
“I truly do have a passion for returning. I feel like I am my best as a football player when the ball is in my hands, and if that means being the returner and playing on offence as well, then by all means, that’s what I want to do,” Pimpleton told the media in Ottawa.
“I’m a football player and I do what I’m asked to do. If they want me to come return, that’s what I want to do. If they asked me to come kick, I would do it to the best of my ability.”
The five-foot-eight, 175-pound target shared return duties with DeVonte Dedmon in 2025, bringing back 48 punts for 595 yards, 34 kickoffs for 735 yards, four missed field goal returns for 235 yards, and scoring two return touchdowns.
With Dedmon now in Montreal, Pimpleton is the only player with CFL return experience currently on Ottawa’s roster. Four players have been listed at returner for the team’s first preseason game on Friday night: Jacquez Stuart, Jordan Bly, Sam Schnee, and Cade McDonald.
The kick return job was highlighted as a position battle heading into Redblacks training camp. Though it’s possible a rookie will pop off the page, it also seems Pimpleton would be happy to pull double duty on offence and special teams.
The Redblacks opened training camp on Sunday, May 10. The team will play its two preseason games against the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, May 22 and Friday, May 29. Final roster cuts are due on Saturday, May 30, after which the team will play its first regular-season game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, June 6.
Ottawa recently selected Purdue offensive lineman Giordano Vaccaro with their first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft and it appears he could be a day-one starter. The team’s other major offseason additions include quarterback Jake Maier, running back Greg Bell, linebacker A.J. Allen, and strong-side linebacker C.J. Reavis.
In 2025, the Redblacks finished fourth in the East Division standings with a 4-14 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Ryan Dinwiddie was hired as the team’s head coach and general manager after the firing of Bob Dyce.
