A free agent signing from another team before the actual free agent signing period can start was actually overshadowed by a rumoured free agent signing Tuesday morning.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders first announced they inked veteran Canadian receiver Tommy Nield Tuesday, then came the speculative news from multiple media outlets that the Green and White will sign Calgary quarterback Tommy Stevens. The 6’5″, 245-pound Indianapolis product has proven to be an excellent short-yardage quarterback in the C-F-L, rushing for 685 yards and 25 touchdowns over 52 career games while completing 11 of 20 career pass attempts for 82 yards and one touchdown. Nield, meanwhile, is a 6’3″, 203 pound pass catcher who has played in 41 games over the last four years with Toronto. The 25-year-old McMaster grad has 63 career C-F-L catches for 776 yards and two touchdowns. Following is the news release about Nield from the Riders…..

DATE:                       February 4, 2025

RELEASE TIME:      IMMEDIATELY

RELEASE:                SR25-023

RIDERS ADD CANADIAN RECEIVER TOMMY NIELD

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed National receiver Tommy Nield.

Nield (6’3-203) was selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the fourth round, 30^th overall, of the 2021 CFL Draft and went on to play four seasons and 41 games for the Double Blue. Over that time, the 25-year-old made 63 receptions for 776 yards including 354 yards after catch, two touchdowns and a 12.2 yards per catch average. He earned his first touchdown in his sophomore season on a 37-yard pass from McLeod Bethel-Thompson vs. BC on October 8, 2022. Nield is a two-time Grey Cup Champion winning with Toronto in both 2022 and 2024.

Collegiately, Nield spent four collegiate seasons (2017-2020) at McMaster University, helping the team win the Yates Cup in 2019. Including playoff games that year, he caught 48 passes for 688 yards and four touchdowns, earning Second Team OUA All-Star accolades. He had his best game of the season when he caught eight passes for 151 yards and a touchdown in the Mitchell Bowl. Nield was also named to the OUA All-Rookie Team in 2017.