Roughriders sign Ryan to contract extension, release Thigpen

The CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed Regina-born punter Jon Ryan to a one-year contract extension.

Ryan was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 11.

The 38-year-old is heading into his second season with the Roughriders. Last season, he punted 107 times for a 48.8-yard average en route to being named a West Division all-star.

He also was Saskatchewan’s nominee for the CFL award as outstanding special-teams player.

Ryan, who played high school football with the Sheldon-Williams Spartans before joining the University of Regina Rams, began his CFL career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2004.

After two seasons in Winnipeg, he spent 12 seasons in the NFL and played 191 career regular-season games with the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.

Thigpen cut loose

The Roughriders announced later Wednesday that they had released running back-returner Marcus Thigpen.

The 33-year-old product of Detroit spent the past two-plus seasons with Saskatchewan.

In 2019, he recorded 41 carries for 201 yards and three touchdowns, 19 receptions for 161 yards and a TD, 47 punt returns for 398 yards, seven kickoff returns for 242 yards and a TD, and two missed field-goal returns for 43 yards.