The Hamilton Tiger-Cats appear serious about making a run in this year’s playoffs as the club has added veteran CFL players Derel Walker and Jamal Davis II.
Walker was released by the Saskatchewan Roughriders last month after returning from a knee injury. He was deemed expendable following the emergence of Tevin Jones and Samuel Emilus in the team’s receiving corps.
The six-foot-two, 187-pound target dressed for Saskatchewan’s first game of the season and caught three passes for 28 yards and one touchdown against the Edmonton Elks. He then missed the next seven contests due to injury.
The 32-year-old joined the Riders as a free agent this past off-season following a two-year run with the Edmonton Elks. The four-time divisional all-star started his CFL career with Edmonton in 2015 and won the Grey Cup mere days after being named the league’s Most Outstanding Rookie. He spent four seasons with the team before a one-year stint with the Toronto Argonauts during which he was the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
Over 92 career CFL games, Walker has made 474 receptions for 6,681 yards and 34 touchdowns.
Davis II was released by the Montreal Alouettes on Monday, which he claimed came as a result of his request. He recorded 22 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, and three sacks over 14 games this season, though his playing time diminished in recent weeks as first-round 2023 CFL Draft pick Lwal Uguak factored more into the team’s rotation at defensive end.
The 28-year-old from Canton, Ohio went unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft and had stints with the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, and Cleveland Browns before coming north of the border.
The six-foot-four, 250-pound defender made 17 tackles and four sacks as a CFL rookie in 2021 before signing with the Los Angeles Chargers. He rejoined Montreal following his release from the Chargers last season, making 10 tackles and two sacks in six games.
The Ticats (6-8) are scheduled to host the Calgary Stampeders (4-10) on Saturday, Sept. 30 with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. EDT.
