Ottawa has chosen Jake Maier as its Week 1 starter against the Edmonton Elks, with head coach Ryan Dinwiddie making the call after a competition with Dru Brown.
Ottawa’s quarterback decision is no longer a camp question—it’s a starting point.
The Ottawa Redblacks named Jake Maier their starter for Week 1 against the Edmonton Elks on Thursday, with new head coach Ryan Dinwiddie making the announcement in the final stretch of preparation.
Dinwiddie said he told both quarterbacks the plan about four days earlier, and didn’t want to delay the decision. “Jake’s going to be our starter moving forward,” Dinwiddie told reporters. “I told (both quarterbacks) that about four days ago. Just wanted to get Jake going. we feel like he’s the starting quarterback. so let’s not wait to announce it.”.
The job came open with Dru Brown as the incumbent, but Maier took control of the moment early. In last week’s win over Montreal in the team’s first-preseason game, Maier went 10-for-14 for 155 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Brown did not play in that matchup.
Brown’s résumé with Ottawa is substantial, too. The 29-year-old led the Redblacks to the playoffs in his first season as a starter in 2023, but he missed half of last season due to injury and went 2-7 as a starter.
For Maier, the decision lands after an offseason move that kept him close to the championship stage. Signed by the Redblacks this offseason. he arrived after spending last season as the backup to Trevor Harris with the Grey Cup-winning Saskatchewan Roughriders. Maier. 29. had also been the Calgary Stampeders’ starter for 2.5 seasons before that backup role. and he started two games last year. going 1-1.
Dinwiddie’s call comes with one more preseason step before Ottawa turns to the regular season. Maier will play with the starters in Friday’s pre-season finale against Montreal. The season opener is June 6 against visiting Edmonton.
Maier framed it as a chance to build chemistry in real time. “It’s a good opportunity for us as a full group,” Maier said. “We put a lot of good work in during training camp. It’s really our first go-around as a complete unit just to see how good we can be for each other. I think it’s a good opportunity to compete.”.
Ottawa now moves into its opener with a clear plan under center—one that ends the competition and puts the spotlight directly on Maier as Week 1 arrives.
Ottawa Redblacks Jake Maier Ryan Dinwiddie Dru Brown Week 1 starter Edmonton Elks CFL quarterback pre-season finale June 6 season opener