Behind the Argonauts’ tenacious defence is a linebacker tackling everyone in sight - Toronto Star

Adarius Pickett leads the CFL with 97 total tackles. His return to Toronto has helped make the Argos defence a nightmare to play against.

Argos linebacker Adarius Pickett tackles Ottawa Redblacks wide receiver Keelan White.

The Argonauts are returning to the playoffs thanks in large part to a tenacious defence — and one particular player has been key to its success.

Adarius Pickett has picked up where he left off the last time he was in an Argos uniform. The 30-year-old defensive back made the CFL all-star team back in 2023, when he recorded 124 total tackles.

Now, he has a chance to beat that. With four games to go, Pickett leads the CFL with 97 tackles. Playing alongside linebacker Isaac Darkangelo (second with 92), he has made Toronto a nightmare to play against.

Pickett’s season-high 13 tackles plus a sack in last Saturday’s home win over the Edmonton Elks earned the league’s player of the week honours alongside Calgary’s Jalen Philpot and Ottawa’s Justin Hardy.

“Very thankful to receive the recognition,” Pickett said after Wednesday’s practice. “It just motivates me to continue to go …  I’m just trying to build each and every week.”

Adarius Pickett, pictured in his first stint with the Argos in 2023.

Now in his sixth CFL season (two in Montreal, two in Ottawa, two in Toronto), the California native has accrued 500 career tackles. He says individual success comes in part from buying into the team’s identity (“physical and relentless football”) and learning to read opponents.

“I’m just doing a good job of moving around and making it hard for teams to stay away from me,” he said.

Coach Mike Miller, who had known Pickett during his first stint with the Argos in 2023 before he went to play for the Redblacks, was happy Toronto signed him again in January.

“He’s just an experienced veteran leader that plays this game in a very physical way, and he just wears his passion to play this game on his sleeve,” the coach said. “For him it’s all about winning and it’s all about that next play. He’s definitely a process-driven guy, and we’re blessed to have him.”

The 8-6 Argos, who have already locked up a home playoff date, will need that physicality Friday night on the road against an equally punishing Winnipeg Blue Bombers team. In July, the Bombers escaped with a 30-21 victory that counted as a Toronto home game while BMO Field was booked for the FIFA World Cup. Winnipeg, 7-6, is still fighting for playoff seeding. 

Veteran quarterback Zach Collaros missed the first meeting with Toronto and is listed on the CFL injury report as out with a head injury. Backup Dru Brown will start. 

“We’ve got to come ready to play,” Miller said. “This is a physical football team ... and they are the standard. Regardless of who is back there, we know this is going to be a battle.”

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Gilbert Ngabo is a Toronto-based sports reporter for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @dugilbo.