Article content continued

The Redblacks made the pitch for Laing as the latest attempt to fire up their pass rush. With one regular-season contest remaining, they rank fifth among the nine clubs with 40 quarterback sacks.

Photo by Craig Robertson / Craig Robertson/Toronto Sun/QMI Agency

“He was a pain in the butt to play against when he was with Toronto,” Campbell said. “You’re hoping he’s in shape and will be ready to go, which I know he will be. We’re looking forward to having him out there.”

Laing likely would take the roster spot of defensive tackle Zack Evans, expected to be among a sizable number of starters receiving limited playing time or none at all Friday in a game with zero impact on the Redblacks (8-8-1), who have clinched first place in the East and home field for the division final on Nov. 20, but matters significantly to the Blue Bombers (10-7-0) in the West.

For example, Ottawa’s offence is unlikely to feature receivers Brad Sinopoli, Greg Ellingson and Ernest Jackson and more likely to feature practice squad members Joshua Stangby and John Harris and Jake Harty, who is coming off the six-game injured list. Those decisions and many others were yet to be finalized as of Wednesday, but that was how things looked during practices this week.

As well, guard Randy Beardy received snaps with the first-team offence just two weeks after the Windsor Lancers played their last game of the Ontario University Athletics season. A 2016 Redblacks draft pick, he had been on the practice roster until late July, when he was released so he could return to Windsor for his last season of university football.