CFL free agency: Roughriders upgrade defence

A roundup of the significant signings on the second day of CFL free agency:

Riders strengthen D

The Saskatchewan Roughriders drastically upgraded their defence Wednesday after adding Canadian defensive end Justin Capicciotti, linebacker Greg Jones and defensive backs EdGaineyandOthaFoster.

The Riders also signed running backsKendialLawrence and Curtis Steele.

Othaand Lawrence are the latest former Edmonton players to follow head coach/GM Chris Jones to Saskatchewan. On Tuesday, offensive lineman Andrew Jones signed with the Riders while CanadianreceiverShamawdChambers the top Canadian in last year's Grey Cup game agreed to terms before officially signing his deal Wednesday.

The six-foot-four, 212-pound Foster spent the last two seasons with Edmonton, starting all 33 regular-season games he appeared in. He recorded 103 tackles, seven special-teams tackles and two interceptions.

Capicciotti, a Toronto native, spent the last two years in Ottawa and was a CFL all-star last season. The six-foot-three, 235-pound end registered 23 sacks while with theRedblacksand was a highly sought commodity in free agency.

The six-foot, 242-pound Jones spent the last two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts. Last year, the 27-year-old started all 18 regular-season games and registered a team-high 98 tackles.

The five-foot-11, 195-poundGaineyspent the last two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after beginning his CFL career in Montreal.

Gainey, 25, has played in 43 career games, having registered 69 tackles, 25 special-teams tackles, two interceptions and three fumble returns, including one that was returned for a touchdown.

The Roughriders also announced the signing of Canadian receiverShamawdChambers. The six-foot-three, 219-pound native ofMarkham, Ont., spent the last four seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos and was named the top Canadian in the club's Grey Cup win last November against Ottawa.

Lions address offence

The B.C. Lions agreed to terms with running back Jeremiah Johnson and signed offensive lineman Levy Adcock.

The five-foot-nine, 210-pound Johnson, a native of Los Angeles, spent last season with Ottawa after splitting the 2014 campaign between the Toronto Argonauts and Redblacks.

Johnson ran for 448 yards on 97 carries with nine touchdowns last year. He appeared in 20 regular-season games the past two seasons with Ottawa and Toronto, rushing for 796 yards on 156 carries with 12 TDs while adding 62 catches for 434 yards and two touchdowns.

The six-foot-six, 324-pound Adcock spent the past two seasons with Saskatchewan, starting in 13 of the 15 regular-season appearances he made over that time. He played collegiately at Oklahoma State.

Bombers add DT Cummings

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announcedthey've signed American free-agent defensive tackle Euclid Cummings.

The six-foot-three, 285-pound Cummings had 27 tackles, eight sacks and one forced fumble in 15 games last season with the Toronto Argonauts.

Prior to joining the Argos in 2014, Cummings spent time with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers following his college career at Georgia Tech.

Stamps steal 2 from Ticats

The Calgary Stampeders dipped into free agency to sign receiver Bakari Grant and linebacker Taylor Reed.

Grant and Reed join the Stampeders after both spending time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Grant registered 242 career catches for 3,027 yards with 16 touchdowns with Hamilton. The six-foot-four, 195-pound receiver had 42 receptions for 507 yards and two TDs last season.

Esks bring back Sherritt

The Edmonton Eskimos re-signed veteran linebacker JC Sherritt.

Sherritt is under contract with Edmonton through the 2017 season. He became a free agent noon ET on Tuesday.

Sherritt, the CFL's top defensive player in 2012, is entering his sixth season with Edmonton. Last year he had 71 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and 13 special-teams tackles in 18 games, all starts.

He capped his 2015 season with four tackles in Edmonton's Grey Cup win over Ottawa.

Ticatsre-up withLaurent, grab returner Washington

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announcedthey've re-signed free-agent defensive lineman Ted Laurent to a two-year deal.

Laurent, 28, was one of the top names available on the free-agent market. The six-foot-one, 303-pound Laurent, who grew up in Montreal, was a CFL all-star the last two seasons with Hamilton.

"Ted has been a huge part of our defence the last two seasons and was a priority for our club as free agency opened Tuesday," Kent Austin, Hamilton's vice-president of football operations, general manager and head coach, said in a statement. "He is a complete player that is able to defend against the run and collapse the pocket on the quarterback.

"We're extremely excited to have one of the best players in the league back in Hamilton."

Laurent has appeared in 81 regular-season games with Edmonton (2011-'13) and Hamilton, having recorded 123 tackles, 23 sacks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Hamilton also agreed to terms with free-agent defensive back/kick-returner Demond Washington, a former Winnipeg Blue Bomber, while announcing the return of American offensive lineman Brian Simmons.

Als shore up D-line

The Montreal Alouettes bolstered their defensive linewith the signing of Canadian defensive tackle Vaughn Martin to a two-year deal.

The six-foot-four, 300-pound Martin spent seven seasons in the NFL after being drafted in the fourth round, No. 113 overall, in 2009 by the San Diego Chargers. He spent four seasons in San Diego before joining the Miami Dolphins in 2013 and also spent time with the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs.

Martin, 29, appeared in 51 career NFL games, registering 79 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. He played collegiately at the University of Western Ontario.

"This has been a long and calculated process to finally get Vaughn to Montreal," Montreal head coach/GM Jim Popp said in a statement. "Talks have gone on over the last couple of years, up to Vaughn making a visit to Montreal and taking a medical.

"Vaughn has a chance to come in and offer us a force inside, partnered with Alan-Michael Cash, that could cause teams a lot of problems. We obviously are excited about the possibilities and welcome him to the Alouettes."

Argos keep Whitakeraboard, trade Campbell

The Toronto Argonauts re-signed free-agent running back Brandon Whitaker.

Whitaker joined the Argos on June 21, 2015 following six seasons with the Montreal Alouettes. The five-foot-10, 200-pound Whitaker was second in the East Division in rushing with 636 yards on 121 carries (5.3-yard average) and three TDs while adding 53 catches for 440 yards and three touchdowns.

"Brandon Whitaker is one of the best all-around running backs in our game," Toronto head coach Scott Milanovich said in a statement. "He is an elusive runner with great hands in the passing game.

"We are thrilled to have him return to us."

Whitaker, a two-time Grey Cup champion, has rushed for 4,009 career yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 247 catches for 2,099 yards and 16 TDs. He was a CFL all-star in 2011.

The Argos also dealt American offensive lineman Bruce Campbell to the Saskatchewan Roughriders for a 2016 fourth-round pick and rights to a negotiations list player. The six-foot-five, 317-pound Campbell started 15 regular-season games and the East Division semifinal last year with Toronto.

RedblackssignGascon-Nadon

The Ottawa Redblacks signed free-agent defensive lineman Arnaud Gascon-Nadon.

The six-foot-three, 250-pound defensive end spent three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after being selected in the third round, 17th overall, in the 2012 CFL draft out of Laval. He registered nine tackles and a forced fumble.

Gascon-Nadon, a 27-year-old Montreal native, helped Laval win Vanier Cup titles in 2010 and '12.