Saskatchewan Roughriders sign former Redblacks’ RB Ryquell Armstead, one other

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed former Ottawa Redblacks’ running back Ryquell Armstead.

The five-foot-eleven, 221-pound ball-carrier started Ottawa’s first 11 games of the season before his sudden release. He recorded 125 carries for 623 yards and three touchdowns and caught 35 passes for 284 yards.

The 27-year-old signed with the Redblacks immediately following the 2023 season. He was originally a fifth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2019 NFL Draft and dressed for 18 games over three seasons with the team, recording 50 carries for 188 yards and 17 receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

The native of Bridgeton, N.J. had also previously been a member of the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, and the DC Defenders of the XFL. He ran for 2,812 yards and 34 touchdowns over 29 collegiate games at Temple University and was named first-team All-AAC as a senior.

The Riders have also signed American linebacker Braxton Hill.

The six-foot-two, 225-pound defender played four collegiate seasons at the University of Montana where he made 231 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, nine sacks, eight pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions over 51 career games.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-7-1) will visit the Calgary Stampeders (4-8-1) on Friday, Sept. 20 with kickoff slated for 9:30 p.m. EDT. This will be the first of two meetings between the teams this season.