Roughriders announce signings of four American players

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have conducted a mini-airlift of American players.

The CFL team announced Tuesday it had signed four players: Defensive linemen Brayden Thomas and Caleb Sanders, wide receiver John Ursua, and defensive back Tedric Thompson.

Thomas played collegiately at the University of Mary, Minnesota State and North Dakota State before signing as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams in 2022.

The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder spent most of the ’22 season on the Rams’ practice squad, but played in one game in December.

The 6-foot-1, 287-pound Sanders played at South Dakota State before attending rookie camp with the New York Giants after the 2023 NFL draft.

He subsequently went to training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles, recording three tackles in one pre-season game before being released.

Ursua’s college career at Hawaii included an NCAA-leading 16 touchdown catches in 2018 and a nomination for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which goes annually to the most outstanding receiver in college football.

The 5-foot-9, 182-pounder was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round in 2019, and he subsequently spent three seasons with them.

Thompson is a product of the University of Colorado who also was a Seattle draft pick, going to the Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2017 lottery. The 6-foot-0, 204-pounder appeared in 29 games over three seasons with the Seahawks, recording 80 tackles, three interceptions, five pass knockdowns, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.

His NFL career also included stops with the Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans.

The Roughriders are to return to action Friday, when they play host to the Edmonton Elks. Game time at Mosaic Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.

Saskatchewan is coming off a 51-6 loss to the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Saturday’s Banjo Bowl.