Linebacker Otha Foster is back with the Riders

The Roughriders have their 2016 Defensive Player of the Year back in the fold.

Otha Foster has signed a contract with the green and white, head coach Chris Jones confirmed after practice on Tuesday.

Foster was released by the Riders in January in order to pursue an NFL opportunity with the Baltimore Ravens, just before he was set to become a CFL free agent in February.

Foster was among some of the final cuts made by the Ravens before the NFL season began.

Jones said it was good to have Foster back in the green and white because he’s been playing with Jones since they were back in Edmonton.

“He’s been with us three years, we won a Grey Cup with him, we know what kind of player he is. He was getting an opportunity down south for a reason. He’s a good player,” Jones said.

Foster is the second Rider who left for an NFL opportunity to come back in recent days. On Monday, the Riders announced that linebacker Jeff Knox Jr. had returned to the team after being cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Both Foster and Knox could have signed with any CFL team they wanted upon return to the league, but both chose the Riders.

“We’ve got some good guys, they know the coaching staff here. They’re going to be treated well, going to get treated with respect and we’re going to hold them to a high standard and they see where we’re going,” Jones said.

Foster was not available to speak with the media Tuesday afternoon.

The Roughriders also announced the signing of kick returner Marcus Thigpen.

Thigpen is an NFL and CFL veteran who has played more than 80 games between the two leagues.

Fans may remember Thigpen from his CFL debut when he took the game’s opening kickoff 93-yards for a touchdown and later added a 118-yard missed field goal return for his second touchdown.

The Roughriders practice starts at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning at Mosaic Stadium before flying to Hamilton for Friday’s game.