New York Jets add former CFL all-star Diontae Spencer to practice roster

Photo: AP/Jack Dempsey

The New York Jets have added former CFL all-star Diontae Spencer to their practice roster, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon.

The 30-year-old played 42 games over the past three seasons with the Denver Broncos (2019-21) and served as the team’s primary return specialist. He fielded 68 punts for 667 yards and scored one touchdown while adding 47 kickoff returns for 1,008 yards. He also caught 10 passes for 54 yards, while rushing six times for 25 more.

The McNeese State product played 57 career CFL games as a member of the Toronto Argonauts (2015-16) and Ottawa Redblacks (2017-18) and caught 259 passes for 3,137 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also added 191 punt returns for 2,162 yards and two touchdowns, 90 kickoff returns for 1,977 yards, and eight missed field goal returns for 310 yards and another score.

In his first year with the Redblacks, Spencer set a new CFL single-game mark with 496 all-purpose yards in one outing.

The versatile weapon was named an East Division all-star in 2017 and 2018, taking home league honours in the latter year. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers that off-season but was cut in training camp before landing with the Broncos.

The five-foot-eight, 170-pound speedster has earned more than $2.1 million since jumping to the NFL in 2019.