Redblacks star LB Adarius Pickett out for season with Achilles injury

The Ottawa Redblacks have suffered a huge blow on defence.

Star linebacker Adarius Pickett has been ruled out for the rest of the year with an Achilles injury, the team confirmed Tuesday, per Don Brennan of Postmedia.

Pickett was hurt early in last week’s loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and did not return to the game.

Pickett is eighth in the league with 66 tackles this season, his first with Ottawa after he signed with the Redblacks in the off-season.

The 28-year-old native of Berkeley, Calif., began his CFL career with the Montreal Alouettes in 2021 and then signed with the Toronto Argonauts in 2023. He was named a CFL All-Star for the first time in Toronto.

The Redblacks (8-4-1) host the Alouettes on Saturday. Ottawa is four points back of the Als for first in the East.