Elsewhere, four more players were released by the Saskatchewan Roughriders yesterday to pursue N-F-L opportunities. They are defensive backs Hamp Cheevers and A-J Hendy, linebacker Gary Johnson Jr. and defensive lineman Trenton Thompson. None of the four imports were on the 2019 active roster. With the exception of Johnson, all players have their C-F-L rights retained by the Green and White through 2021 if they can’t make a go of it south of the border. That makes the total 17 players who have opted out of their Riders’ contracts, including four Canadians. Following is the news release from the Roughriders…

DATE: August 31, 2020

RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY

RELEASE: SR20-061

ROUGHRIDERS TRANSACTIONS

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have announced the following players have opted out of their contracts to pursue NFL opportunities per the agreement between the CFL and the CFLPA after the cancellation of the 2020 season:

• American defensive back Hamp Cheevers (rights retained through 2021)
• American defensive back A.J. Hendy (rights retained through 2021)
• American linebacker Gary Johnson Jr.
• American defensive lineman Trenton Thompson (rights retained through 2021)