Tiger-Cats DB Adeleke added to six-game injured list
Published
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will be without a defensive back Tunde Adeleke when they face the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday as they announced via their depth chart that he has been added to the six-game injured list.
Adeleke, 27, has amassed 13 tackles through four weeks of the 2023 CFL season.
The Nigerian-born Carleton University product was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders with the 25th overall pick in the 2017 CFL Draft. Adeleke played two seasons for the Stampeders (2017-18), winning the Grey Cup in 2018.
A CFL All-Star in 2019 and an East Division All-Star in 2019, 2021, Adeleke has recorded 225 career defensive tackles to go with five sacks and five interceptions.
26-year-old Bakersfield, Calif., native Stavros Katsantonis will start at safety for the Tiger-Cats.
"The game has never been too big for him even as a rookie," said Tiger-Cats head coach Orlondo Steinauer Friday on Katsantonis.
"He's a playmaker; he plays with great understanding. He's cut his teeth on (special) teams but he's been valuable enough to where in the past we've actually found packages for him to get in."
"(I'm) definitely excited," Katsantonis said ahead of his first start of the season. "We're taught around here to prepare like we're starters so I'm not too worried about anything, not getting too over excited."
Facing a familiar foe in Redbacks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who will make his first start of the season after suffering a leg injury last season, Katsantonis will lean into his past to help him Saturday.
"I was fortunate to be with him [Masoli] my rookie season. He's a smart, pro-style quarterback. He knows the CFL game, he's been up here a long time. We know he has a good deep ball - good as any in the league."