VANCOUVER — The BC Lions announced on Tuesday that American linebacker Josh Woods has signed a two-year extension with the team through 2025. He was eligible to become a free agent on February 13.

Woods, 26, enjoyed a career year in 2023 with 54 total tackles (45 defence, nine special teams), a pair of interceptions and one defensive touchdown while suiting up in all 18 regular season games for the first time in his career.

The native of Ontario, CA originally signed with the team in October 2021 before suiting up in a pair of games to close out that season. Woods became a regular in the 2022 season, suiting up in 17 regular season games while registering 35 total tackles (23 defence, 12 special teams) and a pair of sacks.

In 31 games with the UCLA Bruins from 2015-2019, Woods racked up 111 combined tackles (69 solo, 42 assisted) 11.5 tackles for a loss, five-and-a-half sacks, two fumble recoveries, two pass knockdowns and an interception. Named second-team All-Pac-12 by the Associated Press in his senior season.

TORONTO — The Toronto Argonauts have extended American linebacker Jonathan Jones, the team announced on Monday. He was set to become a free agent on February 13.

Toronto also extended All-Star linebacker Wynton McManis last week and traded away Canadian linebacker Jordan Williams earlier on Monday.

Jones, 26, played 18 games in 2023, recording 49 defensive tackles, 13 special teams tackles (fourth most on the team), seven sacks (third), and one interception.

The five-foot-11, 230-pound linebacker joined the Argos as a free agent in 2022 playing in six games that season with 10 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, two interceptions, and one sack. The Florida native who attended both Notre Dame and Toledo in college was the Argos leading tackler in the 109^th Grey Cup with five defensive tackles and one special teams tackle.

VANCOUVER — The BC Lions have signed Global defensive lineman Tibo Debaillie to a one-year extension, the team announced on Tuesday. Debaillie was eligible to become a free agent on February 13.

The news comes just a few hours after the Lions extended National linebacker Josh Woods through the next two years.

Debaillie, 26, is back for a third season with the club after racking up 14 defensive tackles and a pair of special teams stops across 18 regular season games.

After joining the Lions as a free agent ahead of the 2022 season, Debaillie emerged as the Lions’ most impactful Global player in recent years, recording 20 defensive tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery while dressing in all 18 regular season games.

The native of Gistel, Belgium was selected by Edmonton in round three (20th overall) of the 2021 Global Draft and dressed in three regular season contests with the Elks that season.

He attended Towson University from 2018-19 and registered 28 defensive tackles, three tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks in 22 games with the Tigers.

Prior to moving to North America, Debaillie led the Belgian Football League’s Ostend Pirates and helped the squad capture Belgian Bowl XXIX in the 2016 campaign.

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Tuesday they have released National defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo. The news come a day after the Tiger-Cats agreed to a trade for National linebacker Jordan Williams with the Toronto Argonauts.

The Ticats traded for Kongbo just before the start of the 2023 regular season. The veteran went on to play 18 games in Hamilton, tallying 15 defensive tackles and three special teams tackles.

Before joining the Tabbies, Kongbo spent time with the BC Lions (2023) and played 26 games over two seasons in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2019, 2021), registering 28 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle and four quarterback sacks.

The six-foot-five, 266-pounder from Surrey, BC was born in Kinshasa, Zaire. He suited up in three regular season games for the National Football League’s Denver Broncos (2023), registering one defensive tackle. Kongbo also spent time with the San Francisco 49ers (2020) and played his collegiate football at the University of Tennessee.

Hamilton also announced on Tuesday they have signed four American players, including quarterback Kevin Thomson, linebacker Jimmy Phillips Jr. and defensive linemen Adam Plant Jr. and Kelle Sanders.

Thomson, 28, suited up in one game with the BC Lions (2021-2022). The six-foot-one, 220-pound native of Auburn, WA, most recently spent time with the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars after his stint with the Lions. Thomson spent his collegiate career with the Washington Huskies (2020), the Sacramento State Hornets (2016-2019) and the UNLV Rebels (2015). During his time with Sacramento State, he suited up in 27 games over three seasons (2017-2019) and registered 6,424 passing yards, 52 passing touchdowns, 1,247 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns.

Phillips Jr., 23, most recently spent time with the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers in 2023. The six-foot-one, 232-pound native of Mesquite, TX, played 60 games over five seasons at SMU (2018-2022), registering 179 total tackles, two sacks and two interceptions.

Plant Jr., 23, most recently spent time with the National Football League’s Las Vegas Raiders in 2023. The six-foot-five, 263-pound native of Las Vegas, NV, played 28 games over three seasons at UNLV (2020-2022), registering 139 total tackles, 15 sacks and four forced fumbles. Plant began his collegiate career at TCU, where he suited up in one game in his lone season with the Horned Frogs (2019).

Sanders, 24, most recently spent time with the National Football League’s Baltimore Ravens in 2023. The six-foot-four, 246-pound native of Lacey, Washington, played 29 games over three seasons at UAB (2020-2022), registering 69 total tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two passes defended and one fumble recovery.

MONTREAL — It’s the end of an era in Montreal.

The Montreal Alouettes announced Tuesday that they have released American running back William Stanback, per his request. The veteran was set to become a free agent on February 13.

Stanback (six-foot, 233 pounds) joined the Alouettes in 2018, and went over 1,000 yards two times in his career. The 29-year-old’s best season came in 2021, when he ran for 1176 yards and three touchdowns. Stanback also helped lead the Alouettes to the Grey Cup last November, rushing for 800 yards and two majors during the regular season while adding 242 yards from scrimmage and a Grey Cup major over three post-season games.

Overall in his career Stanback has amassed 3,716 rushing yards and 11 scores, with 1,058 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a pass catcher.

“We’d like to thank Will for his years of faithful service,” said Montreal Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia. “After several meetings with Will and his camp, he informed us that he wanted to be granted his early release before the start of free agency. We have decided to honour his wishes.”

REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders made sure that head coach Corey Mace would have have a dangerous pass-rushing weapon as he implements his new scheme.

The Riders and defensive lineman Anthony Lanier II have agreed to a one-year extension, the team announced on Tuesday. The veteran was set to become a free agent on February 13.

Lanier II signed with the Riders in 2021 and has been a dominant force on the defensive line for three years in Saskatchewan. The defender has 14 sacks and two forced fumbles in 35 appearances with the Green and White.

The veteran is part of a defensive line that also featured Micah Johnson and Pete Robertson, both of whom are set to become free agents on February 13 if they don’t sign an extension with the team.

Lanier II (six-foot-six, 285 pounds) returns for 2024 after suiting up for 14 games last season. The versatile 30-year-old lined up at both defensive tackle and defensive end, tallying 19 tackles, five sacks, two tackles for loss, one pass knockdown and one fumble recovery. He played 11 games in 2022 earning eight sacks – including three in a dominant performance in Week 4. He also tallied 19 defensive tackles, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Lanier II played 10 games in his rookie CFL season, registering 13 defensive tackles and one sack.

Prior to the Roughriders, he spent five seasons in the NFL, initially signing with the Washington Commanders in 2016. He went onto play 15 career games with Washington, making ten tackles, five sacks, five tackles for a loss, six passes defended, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. In 2018, Lanier II signed with the Los Angeles Chargers where he stayed for two seasons. The 29-year-old also spent portions of 2020 with the Kansas City Chiefs and the New Orleans Saints.

Collegiately, Lanier II played for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs. As a senior in 2015, he made 29 tackles, six tackles for a loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, four quarterback hurries and one pass break-up over eight games. As a junior, he was second on the team in tackles with 54 while adding 18 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

Lanier II will now be a part of a new defensive scheme under Mace, who was hired after two years as the defensive coordinator with the Toronto Argonauts and led a defence that finished last season first in sacks with 68.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders also announced on Tuesday that they have signed American linebacker Zakoby McClain.

McClain (6’0-230) signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft after an exceptional collegiate career at Auburn (2018-21). The George native played 49 games and tallied 267 defensive tackles, including 19 tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception, nine pass deflections and four forced fumbles.

As a senior, McClain was named All-SEC second team, a Pro Football Focus College all-SEC honorable mention and received an East-West Shrine Game invitation. As a junior – which was also his first season as a starter – he led the SEC and tied for first nationally with 113 tackles. In 2019, his 100-yard pick-6 helped him place third in the SEC for interception return yards, while his three forced fumbles ranked second in the conference