Foster, Thigpen return to Riders after NFL stints

The Saskatchewan Roughriders welcomed back two former players Tuesday.

The Riders re-signed international linebacker Otha Foster. Foster, who spent the 2016 season with the Riders, was recently cut by the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens.

The Riders also announced returner Marcus Thigpen had signed and been assigned to the practice roster. Thigpen, 31, spent a portion of the 2009 season on Saskatchewan’s practice roster.

He spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons with the Hamilton TigerCats, then embarked on a long journey through the NFL. Thigpen is believed to have been out of football since he was released by the Buffalo Bills in 2015.

Foster, 29, led the Riders with 71 defensive tackles in 2016. He was a member of the Edmonton Eskimos in 2014 and 2015 when Riders coach and GM Chris Jones was Edmonton’s head coach.

Foster is the second linebacker to return to the Riders this week. Jeff Knox Jr. signed on Monday after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Knox spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons with the Riders. In 2016, he was third in defensive tackles (65) and led the team in special-teams tackles (19). In 2015, Knox set a club record with 114 defensive tackles.

Knox is expected to play Friday in Hamilton. Jones wouldn’t elaborate on Foster’s status.

“We brought them back for a reason,” Jones said. “We know what we’re getting out of those guys. They played at a very high level for more than one year — multiple years — so when you can go get that consistency, that’s the biggest thing.”

Quarterback Kevin Glenn is apparently recovering from a bruised right hand he suffered in Saturday’s 48-28 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Jones said Glenn was progressing but didn’t say whether Glenn would play Friday.