Justin Cox won’t return to Riders says Chris Jones

Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Chris Jones says Justin Cox will not return to the club after being acquitted of domestic violence charges on Monday.

Chris Jones says no matter what the league decides on his ban Justin Cox will not be back with the #Riders.

— Arielle Zerr (@arielle_zerr) May 30, 2017

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Jones referenced having daughters of his own. Says it’s a matter of principle for him and the team not to have him back. #Riders

— Arielle Zerr (@arielle_zerr) May 30, 2017

The defensive back was released by the CFL team on April 19, one day after Regina police charged him as the result of investigation into an allegation of intimate partner violence. But provincial court Judge Pat Reis ruled Monday there was no evidence to support the charge after hearing from five Crown witnesses.

A statement from the CFL on Cox’s status is expected later this afternoon. If re-instated, he could sign with any of the other eight teams.

The former Mississippi State player had signed a two-year extension with the Roughriders in December after he recorded 42 defensive tackles and four interceptions in 15 games in 2016, en route to being named the team’s most outstanding rookie.

Cox was released by the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs in 2015 after being arrested and charged with domestic violence twice in less than a year.