Riders sign former Michigan and NFL QB Devin Gardiner

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed quarterback Devin Gardiner, per sources.

Riders head coach and general manager Chris Jones said the team would be adding a quarterback after placing Zach Collaros on the six-game injured list with a concussion. Gardiner joins Brandon Bridge and David Watford on Saskatchewan’s roster at the pivot position.

Back in 2016, Gardiner attended Calgary Stampeders mini-camp as a receiver, however, he did not make it to main training camp.

The 26-year-old was the 2016 rookie of the year in the Japan X-League after throwing for 1,746 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions plus 397 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground while playing for the Nojima Sagamihara Rise.

Gardiner went unselected in the 2015 NFL Draft, although he signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Patriots only to be released shortly after mini-camp with New England taking a look at him as a receiver. The Steelers claimed Gardiner off waivers and brought him to training camp in 2015 where he went back and forth between quarterback and receiver, but he did not make Pittsburgh’s roster.

Gardiner played for the University of Michigan (2010-2014) throwing for 6,336 yards (60.4 completion rate), 44 touchdowns and 32 interceptions while rushing for 916 yards and 24 touchdowns and spent time at receiver for the Wolverines in 2012 (16 receptions for 266 yards and four touchdowns). He was the No. 1 rated dual-threat quarterback coming out of Inkster High School in Detroit.