Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ defensive back Tyrell Ford worked out for the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday, per source.
The 24-year-old was a second-round selection in the 2022 CFL Draft out of the University of Waterloo. He dressed for 18 games as a rookie this past season, recording three defensive tackles and 10 special teams tackles. He started the club’s regular-season finale at field-side cornerback and played well, recording two tackles and three knockdowns.
Ford was a standout at the University at Buffalo pro day this past March, recording a 4.44-second 40-yard dash, 36.5-inch vertical, 126-inch broad jump, and 17 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. He also attended the CFL Combine where he ran a 4.42-second forty-yard dash, 7.03-second three-cone drill, and 4.27-second shuttle.
The five-foot-eleven, 188-pound cover man has received attention from the NFL in the past as he attended rookie mini-camps with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers before signing his rookie contract with Winnipeg.
The native of Niagara Falls, Ont. was a three-time OUA all-star and two-time second-team All-Canadian while playing for the Waterloo Warriors in U Sports. He made 72 defensive tackles, six interceptions, and 20 knockdowns over the course of his career along with 1,872 return yards and three punt return touchdowns.
Ford has previously worked out for the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, and Jacksonville Jaguars this off-season. He remains under contract with the Bombers for 2023 but is permitted to pursue opportunities south of the border via the league’s NFL window.
CFL players are permitted to begin signing reserve/futures contracts for the 2023 NFL season on January 9. Among the other CFL players working out for the Bengals on Friday was B.C. Lions’ quarterback Nathan Rourke, Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ receiver Dalton Schoen, and Saskatchewan Roughriders’ receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker.
