Tiger-Cats sign Tre Ford days after Elks released Canadian quarterback

This new season for Edmonton came with a promise of a fresh start. A new team, a new head coach, a new play-caller, and Tre Ford as the unanimous starter. Yet after five games, we're seeing more of the same. No excitement in games, only one win, and uncertainty at the QB position. That's why CFL on TSN analyst Henoc Muamba has the Elks in The Smokehouse.

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed Canadian quarterback Tre Ford to a two-year contract Monday.

Ford, 27, spent the past four seasons with the Edmonton Elks before being released Friday as the club committed to Cody Fajardo as its starter.

The Niagara Falls, Ont., native appeared in 60 career games with Edmonton, passing for 4,651 yards with 29 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

He also rushed for 1,129 yards and four touchdowns.

Ford was selected eighth overall by the Elks in the 2022 CFL draft and won the Hec Crighton Trophy as U SPORTS football’s top player in 2021 at the University of Waterloo.

Hamilton head coach Scott Milanovich said Ford will compete for the backup quarterback role behind starter Bo Levi Mitchell.

The Ticats also re-signed Canadian receiver Keaton Bruggeling, who appeared in nine games last season, and signed receiver-returner Xavier Malone.

Bruggeling is set to represent Canada in four-man bobsled at the Milan Cortina Olympics, while Malone last played for the Michigan Panthers of the UFL.

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Roughriders release kicker Lauther

The Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders released veteran Canadian kicker Brett Lauther on Monday.

Lauther, 35, of Truro, N.S., made 39-of-54 field goal attempts last season. The 72.2 per cent success ratio was the worst of his eight-year tenure in Saskatchewan.

Lauther was entering his 10th CFL season, starting his career in 2013 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He has made 301-of-370 career field goals (81.4 per cent) and 210-of-225 converts (93.3 per cent).

With Saskatchewan, Lauther made 295-of-360 field-goal attempts. His 81.9 per cent accuracy rate is the best in franchise history for a player with 100 or more tries.

Lauther has amassed 1,113 points over his CFL tenure.

The Roughriders also re-signed defensive lineman Benoit Marion. The Montreal native had 13 tackles in 15 games last season as part of the Roughriders’ special teams.

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Lee back with Leos

VANCOUVER — The B.C. Lions have re-signed defensive back T.J. Lee III to a one-year contract.

Lee returned to the Lions in September after the team originally didn’t re-sign him before the 2025 season. He recorded 31 defensive tackles, one interception and a sack after starting the remaining five regular-season games at halfback.

Lee then recorded nine tackles across two playoff appearances and added a forced fumble in the Western final at Saskatchewan.

A two-time league all-star, Lee has 615 defensive tackles and 29 interceptions over 144 regular-season games with the Lions.

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McMahon lands at McMahon

CALGARY — The Stampeders have signed veteran running back Deonta McMahon.

The 25-year-old from Frostproof, Fla., played a total of 39 regular-season contests over three seasons with Toronto and was a member of the Argonauts’ 2024 Grey Cup-championship team.

He amassed 1,588 all-purpose yards and scored nine touchdowns with the Argos, including 578 rushing, 431 receiving, 518 on kickoff returns and 61 on punt returns.

McMahon was released by the Argos on Thursday.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 2, 2026.

The Canadian Press