Derek Mortensen/Electric Umbrella
One day after Jeff Knox Jr., returned to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, two more familiar faces signed with the CFL team.
The Roughriders announced Tuesday that they had signed linebacker Otha Foster III and kick returner Marcus Thigpen — both of whom previously had been with Saskatchewan.
Foster, 28, spent the 2016 season with the Roughriders. The 6-foot-0, 205-pound product of Angie, La., led Saskatchewan with 71 defensive tackles and added three sacks and one interception in 18 regular-season games en route to being named the team’s most outstanding defensive player.
Foster signed with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens in January, but was cut after training camp.
“He has been with us for three years,” said Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones, who coached Foster with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2014 and ’15. “We won a Grey Cup with him (in 2015). We know what kind of player he is.
“He was getting an opportunity down south for a reason. He’s a good player.”
Knox signed with the Roughriders on Monday after being cut by the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He’s to play Friday against the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but it’s unclear if Foster will be in the Saskatchewan lineup.
The Roughriders have been getting production out of their outside linebackers this season, but Foster and Knox give the coaching staff some options.
“We brought them back for a reason,” Jones said. “We know what we’re getting out of those guys. They played at a very high level for more than one year — multiple years — so when you can go get that consistency, I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Thigpen, meanwhile, returns to the CFL after spending four seasons in the NFL.
The 5-foot-9, 195-pounder initially joined the Roughriders in October of 2009, but didn’t play any games with them that season.
He was released after training camp in 2010 and signed with the Tiger-Cats, for whom he recorded 1,055 yards on 116 punt returns and 1,643 yards on 86 kickoff returns in 36 games over the next two seasons.
The 31-year-old Detroit product since has had NFL stops with the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay, Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders. He didn’t play in 2016.
The Roughriders also announced they had released international defensive lineman Royce LaFrance and national kicker Brett Lauther.
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The status of Roughriders quarterback Kevin Glenn remains uncertain.
Glenn injured his right (throwing) hand during Saturday’s 48-28 loss to the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers. While following through on a pass attempt, Glenn hit his hand on Winnipeg defensive lineman Cory Johnson.
Glenn didn’t participate in Monday’s practice and Jones said the veteran pivot didn’t do much Tuesday, either.
“He says he feels better today,” Jones said. “We didn’t let him throw just as a precaution, so we’ll look at it tomorrow.”
Asked subsequently if he would share Glenn’s status with the media on Wednesday, Jones replied with a grin: “I doubt it.”
If Glenn can’t play Friday, Brandon Bridge will start for the Roughriders with Vernon Adams Jr., and Marquise Williams as his backups.
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Saskatchewan guard Peter Dyakowski is set to play in Hamilton for the first time since he was released by the Tiger-Cats in the off-season.
“It’s a great place to play, with great energy,” said Dyakowski, who spent the first nine seasons of his career in Steeltown. “When I was with Hamilton, I always looked forward to the game here because it was a great atmosphere and great energy. Now we’re going to Hamilton, which is known for that in the East.
“It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be great to see my old friends. They’re going to be a little bit further away than they were the last time I played in that stadium (because he’s now on the visitors’ sideline), but it’s going to be nice.”
That said, Dyakowski did have a request for the folks in Hamilton who used to cheer him on when he was a member of the home team.
“I’m hoping that I left things on good terms with the fans so that I don’t get anything thrown at me,” he said. “If anyone reading this is on the Hamilton side and they’re thinking of throwing things, please make it soft. No batteries, no rocks or anything like that.”
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The B.C. Lions announced Tuesday that quarterback Travis Lulay had suffered “a significant and season-ending knee injury” in Friday’s game against the Montreal Alouettes.
Roughriders receiver Rob Bagg can relate. Now 32, the 10th-year CFLer has battled back from season-ending knee injuries that threatened his career — and he hopes the 33-year-old Lulay can do the same.
“I look at a guy like that and I think about how good he is, his knowledge of the game, the arm strength, et cetera,” Bagg said. “Twelve months from now with a repaired knee and a knee brace, you look at other guys who are playing well into their 30s and if that’s the choice he makes, I’m sure he’ll be able to rebound.”
Bagg noted he always feels badly for CFL players who suffer injuries. Their situations also cause him to do some personal reflection.
“It reminds you how lucky you are to still be playing the game, regardless of your age, and how quickly it can be taken from you,” Bagg said. “It’s just another reminder to enjoy the moment.”
