The Ottawa Redblacks signed offensive lineman Eric Starczala to the practice squad on Wednesday. To make room for him, the team released running back Ryquell Armstead.
Eric Starczala is six foot five and weighs 315 pounds. The 26-year-old from Cambridge, Ontario, was on the Redblacks practice squad earlier this year before he was released on July 13, 2023. He signed with Ottawa on December 12, 2022.
Before Ottawa, Starczala was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in the seventh round (62nd pick) in the 2019 CFL Draft from Guelph. Starczala played 17 games in five seasons at Guelph (2015-19) playing right tackle and is a two-time OUA Second-Team All-Star.
Ryquell Armstead is five foot eleven and weighs 230 pounds. The 25-year-old from Millville, New Jersey, was on the Redblacks practice squad. He signed with Ottawa on June 26, 2023. Before Ottawa, he played eight games for the D.C. Defenders in 2023 with 63 carries for 217 yards, four catches for 37 yards, and one touchdown.
Before D.C., the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Armstead in the fifth round (140th pick) in the 2019 NFL Draft. He played three seasons in Jacksonville with 50 carries for 188 yards, 17 catches for 160 yards, and two touchdowns in 18 games. After Jacksonville, Armstead had stints with the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and Green Bay Packers.
Collegiately, Armstead played four seasons at Temple (2015-18) with 573 carries for 2,812 yards, 34 touchdowns, 29 catches for 175 yards, and two kick returns for 38 yards in 47 games for the Owls. He was named to the All-American Athletic Conference Third Team by Phil Steele in 2016.
