The Saskatchewan Roughriders released a pair of tailbacks Thursday.
National Kienan LaFrance and international Shakir Bell were let go by the CFL team.
LaFrance, a 26-year-old product of Winnipeg, was signed as a free agent in February. A hamstring injury limited his participation in training camp and he missed the first three games of the regular season.
He eventually played in 13 regular-season contests, recording 68 carries for 273 yards and two touchdowns and 14 catches for 123 yards and a TD. He added eight rushes for 34 yards and four receptions for 35 yards in Saskatchewan’s two playoff games.
LaFrance began his CFL career with the Ottawa Redblacks, who selected him in the sixth round (45th overall) of the 2015 draft out of the University of Manitoba.
Bell, 25, was signed by the Roughriders in November when the team was having injury problems at tailback. But the product of Indianapolis didn’t appear in any games; he was on the injured list for the final regular-season game and didn’t play in the post-season.
Bell was slated to become a free agent Feb. 13. His release leaves Saskatchewan with 13 pending free agents: Defensive linemen Willie Jefferson, A.C. Leonard, Ese Mrabure and Eddie Steele, offensive linemen Bruce Campbell and Dan Clark, receivers Devon Bailey and Nic Demski, linebacker Otha Foster III, fullback Spencer Moore, tailback Greg Morris, defensive back Kacy Rodgers II and punter/kicker Quinn van Gylswyk.
Cameron Marshall, Trent Richardson and Marcus Thigpen currently are the international running backs on the Roughriders’ roster. Morris is Saskatchewan’s lone Canadian tailback at the moment.
