Riders announce multiple signings on first day of CFL free agency

Johnson and Johnson are coming to Saskatchewan — and they’ll be dressed in Green and White.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced they had signed Regina-born offensive lineman Evan Johnson and American defensive lineman Micah Johnson to contracts Tuesday — the first day of CFL free agency.

Evan Johnson is excited to come home to play CFL football.

“Playing professional football is a dream come true and when you get to play for your hometown team, that’s just extra-special right there,” Evan Johnson said from his home in Saskatoon, the same city where he played his university football with the Saskatchewan Huskies.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun being in front of friends and family back home and wearing the hometown colours for a change.”

The 26-year-old offensive lineman was taken by the Ottawa Redblacks in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2017 draft.

Johnson started as a rookie in 2017 and has played in 44 games, including the 2018 Grey Cup.

Johnson said the Roughriders were at the top of his free-agency wish list.

“(My family) wanted somewhere a little closer to home and you can’t get too much closer to home than right in your hometown,” Johnson said.

Johnson could end up playing right guard and taking over for Dakoda Shepley, who signed with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers in the off-season. Johnson could join two fellow Saskatchewan-born players — guard Brendan LaBatte (Weyburn) and centre Dan Clark (Regina) — as starters if he earns the spot.

“It’s going to be such a cool experience. I can’t wait to continue learning from those guys and if we could have homegrown Saskatchewan talent, that’s a pretty darn cool thing,” Johnson said.

Meanwhile, defensive tackle Micah Johnson is returning to the Roughriders

Johnson tweeted out he has rejoined the Riders. Later, the team confirmed it had signed the American defensive lineman to a 2021 contract.

Johnson was with the Roughriders in 2019, but signed with the B.C. Lions during the 2020 off-season. Due to the cancelled season, Johnson never suited up for the Lions.

Now 32, he dealt with ankle injuries during his one season with the Roughriders but suited up for 15 games. He recorded four sacks during that time but was double-teamed quite a bit by opposing offensive lines, opening up opportunities for other Riders defenders to get to the quarterback.

Johnson has recorded 45 sacks in 96 career CFL games.

It would be a welcome addition to the Riders’ defensive line after the release last week of defensive end Charleston Hughes. He promptly signed with the Toronto Argonauts.

Meanwhile, linebacker Solomon Elimimian — who played with the Roughriders in 2019 — wrote an article for TSN saying he was retiring from the CFL at age 34. Elimimian became a free agent Tuesday morning.

Late Tuesday, the Roughriders confirmed earlier reports that they had found Elimimian’s replacement in Larry Dean.

Dean began his CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but spent the 2019 season with the Edmonton Football Team.

He has recorded 365 defensive tackles, eight special-teams tackles, six sacks, three interceptions and five forced fumbles in 72 career regular-season games.

Dean is a two-time CFL East Division all-star (2017, 2018) and a one-time West Division all-star (2019).

The Roughriders also announced they’re reuniting the Herdman-Reed brothers in 2021. Twins Jordan and Justin Herdman-Reed both signed deals with the Roughriders, the team announced.

Justin was taken by Toronto in the seventh round (54th overall) of the 2017 draft while his brother Jordan was taken a few picks later (70th overall) by the Lions.

Jordan has recorded 95 tackles in 52 career CFL games. Justin has tallied 43 defensive tackles in 40 games.

Justin signed with the Tiger-Cats during the 2020 off-season.

Both are playing on the same team for the first time since both played for Simon Fraser University.

The Riders also announced a pair of defensive backs — Godfrey Onyeka and Lorenzo Jerome — had signed.

Onyeka, a 26-year-old Brampton product, has played in 27 CFL games over the past two seasons, all with the Edmonton Football Team. He was taken in the second round (10th overall) by Edmonton in 2018.

Jerome, 26, played seven games for the Calgary Stampeders in 2019.

Before coming to the CFL, Jerome was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He spent a brief period with the Seattle Seahawks in 2018.