Roughriders sign punter Jon Ryan to contract

Jon Ryan is going to kick it with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for another season.

The CFL team announced Wednesday it had signed the 39-year-old punter to a contract for the 2021 season. Ryan became a free agent on Tuesday.

Ryan had posted a tweet Tuesday indicating he was returning to the Roughriders.

Back for more #Riderville

— Jon Ryan (@JonRyan9) February 10, 2021

The Regina product joined the Riders in 2019 after a 12-year NFL career that included a Super Bowl win with the Seattle Seahawks during the 2013-14 season.

Ryan played in all 18 games for Saskatchewan in 2019, averaging 48.8 yards a punt. He was named a West Division all-star that season as well.

Prior to his time in the NFL, Ryan played two CFL seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

When the CFL released in December a list of players who could become free agents, Saskatchewan had 34 players who could have hit the market. The Roughriders re-signed a number of them before Tuesday’s deadline, but others became free agents.

With Ryan re-signing, there now are seven players unsigned from Saskatchewan’s list: Linebackers Cameron Judge and Deon Lacey, defensive backs Otha Foster and Tevin Mitchell, defensive lineman Jeremy Faulk, kicker Brett Lauther and fullback Patrick Lavoie.

Lauther already has said he won’t sign with a CFL team until he has exhausted all of his NFL options. Judge also is believed to be seeking an opportunity in that league.

Linebacker Alexandre Chevrier was on the Roughriders’ list, but he signed Wednesday with the Montreal Alouettes.

Ryan joins a lengthy list of players who signed with the Roughriders after Tuesday’s free-agent deadline, including offensive lineman Evan Johnson, defensive tackle Micah Johnson and linebacker Larry Dean.