WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have persuaded Tristan Okpalaugo to return to the CFL, signing the defensive end to a two-year contract.
Okpalaugo played 36 games over two seasons with the Toronto Arognauts before signing with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals in 2016. He was placed on the team’s injured reserve out of training camp and eventually released.
“We were talking about wanting to upgrade our pass rush and defensive end spot,” Bombers general manager Kyle Walters said. “He was the guy we were targeting all along.”
The 27-year-old American has 22 sacks, five forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, two interceptions and 67 defensive tackles in 36 CFL games.
Okpalaugo was a finalist for the league’s Most Outstanding Rookie award in 2014.
The Bombers say it was important for them to get the deal done before free agency opens next week.
“We had so much of our available cap money allocated for him,” Walters said. “It was kind of putting some things on hold. The nice thing about (Okpalaugo and his agent) making their decision now is the domino effect for us. We can move on with the other plans.”
Comments