Roughriders re-sign Justin Herdman-Reed

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have scratched the name of another of their free agents off their to-do list.

The CFL team announced Friday it had re-signed national linebacker Justin Herdman-Reed. The 27-year-old product of Winnipeg became a free agent Tuesday.

The 6-foot-0, 235-pounder played 13 regular-season games with Saskatchewan last season and recorded five defensive tackles and five special-teams stops. He also played in both of the Roughriders’ playoff games, adding one defensive tackle.

Herdman-Reed initially was selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the seventh round (54th overall) of the 2017 CFL draft out of Simon Fraser University. He played 40 games with the Argos over the next three seasons, registering 43 defensive tackles, 26 special-teams tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles.

He signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2020, then with the Roughriders in 2021.

Saskatchewan went into the off-season with 50 players who could have become free agents. Herdman-Reed is the second player to re-sign since hitting the market Tuesday, joining offensive lineman Josiah St. John.

The Roughriders extended the contracts of 23 players before their deals expired and released two others, and 10 players signed with other teams. There are 13 players — including Herdman-Reed’s brother, Jordan — who remain unsigned.

Those who left for other teams were linebackers Kevin Francis (B.C. Lions), Deon Lacey (Edmonton Elks) and Nakas Onyeka (Edmonton), defensive backs Elie Bouka (Calgary Stampeders), Ed Gainey (Edmonton) and Loucheiz Purifoy (B.C.), defensive tackles Makana Henry (Edmonton) and Micah Johnson (Hamilton), quarterback Isaac Harker (B.C.), and tailback William Powell (Ottawa Redblacks).

The Roughriders have announced the signings of three free agents from other teams so far: Linebackers Derrick Moncrief (formerly of Edmonton) and Darnell Sankey (Calgary) and receiver Wesley Lewis (Ottawa).