Hamilton Tiger-Cats release former first-round pick OL Alex Fontana (again)

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have released Canadian offensive lineman Alex Fontana. Again.

The 28-year-old joined the team as a free agent last season and made seven starts at centre. He was released by the team six days before training camp got underway in 2023 but rejoined the team two weeks later. He did not dress for any games this year as he recently completed a stint on the six-game injured list.

Fontana was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 CFL Draft by the Ottawa Redblacks. He dressed for 18 regular season games as a rookie in a backup role as part of a veteran offensive line that included Canadian starters Mark Korte, Alex Mateas, Evan Johnson, Nolan MacMillan, and Jason Lauzon-Seguin.

The six-foot-two, 300-pound blocker chose not to return for the 2021 season despite being projected to start at centre following the retirement of Mateas. He became a free agent in February 2022 and signed a two-year contract with the Ticats.

The Toronto native played 27 games over four collegiate seasons with stints at Kansas (2018), Houston (2016-17), and the New Mexico Military Institute (2014-15).

The Ticats (2-4) are scheduled to visit the Ottawa Redblacks (3-3) on Friday, July 28 with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. EDT.

[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531032″ site_id=”3downnation”]