Riders sign former NFL defensive backs, Tony Lippett and A.J. Hendy

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American defensive backs Tony Lippett and A.J. Hendy. 

The six-foot-three, 200-pound Lippett was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round, 156th overall during the 2015 NFL Draft.  After two years with the Dolphins, he went on to spend time with the New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals. Throughout his NFL career, Lippett played in 28 games, recording 81 tackles, 12 pass deflections and four interceptions.

The Detroit native spent four years at Michigan State University playing in 52 games for the Spartans at both defensive back and receiver. Over his career, the 27-year-old caught 149 passes for 2,247 yards and 15 touchdowns plus rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown while also recording 23 tackles, nine pass deflections and one fumble recovery.

The six-foot-one, 205-pound Hendy signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2016 making his NFL debut in Week 17 the same season. The Maryland native spent most of 2017 and 2018 on the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice roster before being signed to the Houston Texans’ active roster in January of 2019. In 2020, Hendy played for the XFL’s New York Guardians, collecting 26 tackles, two tackles for loss and four pass deflections.  

Prior to turning pro, the 26-year-old Hendy spent four years at the University of Maryland playing in 32 games for the Terrapins. Throughout his four-year NCAA career, Hendy recorded 142 tackles, three tackles for loss, seven pass deflections, four forced fumbles and two interceptions for 60 yards and two touchdowns.