The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have added two former NFL players to the roster, receiver Alonzo Russell and defensive back Makinton Dorleant.
Russell most recently played for the XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks, recording 15 catches for 161 yards and one touchdown in five games. The 27-year-old Washington, D.C. native had NFL stints with the Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants, earning $310,335 USD.
The six-foot-four, 218-pound target can move for his size. He ran a 4.54 40-yard time at the 2016 NFL combine and posted a 30.5-inch vertical at his University of Toledo pro day. While with the Rockets, Russell notched 202 receptions for 3,076 yards (15.2 yards per catch) and 24 touchdowns during four NCAA seasons.
Dorleant played four games with the Green Bay Packers in 2016, making one tackle, and bounced from the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens to the Las Vegas Raiders. He spent the 2019 NFL season on the Raiders’ injured reserve list. The 27-year-old has earned $593,750 USD from playing in the NFL.
After starting his NCAA career at the University of Maryland, Dorleant transferred to the University of Northern Iowa for the final three years of his eligibility. He played 52 games and made 142 tackles, defended 28 passes, forced six fumbles, recovered two fumbles and grabbed two interceptions. The five-foot-11, 182-pounder ran a 4.40 40-yard time at his UNI pro day and recorded a 39-inch vertical jump.
Russell and Dorleant are two intriguing talents who could boost the Bombers and push for roster spots if the opportunity to play football comes in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
