Hamilton Tiger-Cats sign veteran free-agent receiver Kenny Lawler

By Canadian Press on February 12, 2025.

Kenny Lawler is a Hamilton Tiger-Cat.

The veteran American receiver signed a two-year deal with Hamilton on Wednesday, the second day of CFL free agency.

Lawler, 30, joins the Ticats following CFL stints with Winnipeg (2019, 2021, 2023024) and Edmonton (2022). Last season, Lawler had 41 catches for 662 yards and four TDs as the Blue Bombers made a fifth straight Grey Cup appearance.

Lawler also helped the Bombers capture CFL championship wins over Hamilton in 2019 and ’21

The six-foot-one, 180-pound Lawler has registered 256 catches for 4,108 yards and 25 TDs in 63 career CFL regular-season games.

Before coming to the NFL, Lawler spent two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, who selected him in the seventh round, No. 243 overall, of the ’16 NFL draft.

Lawler first signed with the CFL’s B.C. Lions in 2018 but never played for them and joined Winnipeg’s practice roster in October of that year.

For a second straight day, Winnipeg kicked things off by agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with American quarterback Shea Patterson. The six-foot, 212-pound Patterson enters his fourth CFL season, having also spent time with Montreal (2021) and Saskatchewan (2023-24).

Patterson appeared in 18 regular-season games last year with Saskatchewan, winning two of six starts. That included a 19-9 home victory over Winnipeg where he threw for 261 yards and a touchdown and ran for 35 yards.

Patterson completed 131 of 217 passes (60.4 per cent) for 1,655 yards with six TDs and five interceptions last season while rushing 38 times for 134 yards and a team-leading seven touchdowns.

Calgary followed by signing Canadian defensive Godfrey Onyeka, who spent the last four seasons with Saskatchewan, and re-signing American offensive lineman Kyle Saxelid, who started three-of-five games with the club in 2024.

The six-foot-one 200-pound Onyeka appeared in 18 regular-season games with the Riders, posting 10 special-teams tackles. He began his CFL career with Edmonton (2018-19).

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2025.

The Canadian Press