The Saskatchewan Roughriders made a number of roster moves Saturday, including the release of quarterback Vince Young.
The 34-year-old Young suffered a hamstring injury during a training-camp session June 6. Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones subsequently revealed that Young had torn the muscle and would be out for up to six weeks.
Young didn’t appear in either of Saskatchewan’s two pre-season games. As a CFL rookie, the Roughriders could release the former Heisman Trophy finalist without any obligations on their part.
Young, who has been trying to make a comeback after a three-year absence from pro football, still could rejoin the Roughriders after his hamstring heals.
Quarterback Bryan Bennett also was among the 20 players released Saturday.
Bennett had looked impressive during Saskatchewan’s mini-camp in Florida in April and in the early part of training camp. However, his showings in the Roughriders’ exhibition contests didn’t live up to expectations.
The departures of Young and Bennett mean that Kevin Glenn, Brandon Bridge and Marquise Williams currently comprise Saskatchewan’s quarterbacking corps.
Veteran tailback Anthony Allen also was released Saturday.
Allen, who spent the 2014 and ’15 seasons with the Roughriders before joining the B.C. Lions in 2016, was added to Saskatchewan’s training-camp roster on June 2. He competed with Cameron Marshall and Greg Morris for the starting tailback job, but lost out.
The other Roughriders veterans released Saturday were defensive linemen Ivan Brown, Greg Milhouse Jr., and Jordan Reaves, defensive back Royce Adams, receiver Joe Craig, linebacker Dillon Grondin and offensive lineman Jarriel King.
The newcomers to Saskatchewan who were cut were defensive backs Zavian Bingham, Crezdon Butler, Warren Gatewood and Mark Roberts, receivers Thomas Mayo, Desmond Reece and Jenson Stoshak, offensive lineman Terrence Campbell, linebacker Alexandre Gagne and running back Quincy Walden.
Like Young, Bingham, Butler and Roberts all suffered injuries during camp or during the pre-season games. Brown and Reaves also missed time during camp with ailments.
Reece, Stoshak and Gagne were invited to training camp after solid showings at the Roughriders’ Florida mini-camp. The receivers faced long odds to crack a deep corps, while Gagne — who also was a long-snapper — was expendable after veteran Jorgen Hus returned to camp earlier this week.
The Roughriders also added seven players to their practice roster Saturday. That group comprises defensive linemen Makana Henry and D.J. Pettway, receivers Antwane Grant and Josh Stanford, offensive lineman Eddie Meredith, defensive back Denzel Radford and linebacker Myke Tavarres.
Three of Saskatchewan’s selections in the 2017 CFL draft — offensive lineman Emmanuel Adusei, linebacker Alexandre Chevrier and receiver Mitchell Picton — were put on the suspended list. Defensive back Ahmad Fulwood also was suspended.
The three nationals are expected to return to their U Sports schools (Carleton, Sherbrooke and Regina, respectively). Fulwood went home to attend to a family matter.
The Roughriders are to return to the practice field Monday in preparation for Thursday’s regular season-opener against the host Montreal Alouettes.
