Willie Jefferson inks extension with Saskatchewan Roughriders

The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed defensive lineman Willie Jefferson to a contract extension, the team announced Sunday.

Jefferson was eligible to become a free agent on Feb. 13.

He will remain with the Roughriders after joining the team in September 2016. The 27-year-old began his CFL career with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2014 and played two seasons there before spending part of 2016 with the NFL’s Washington Redskins.

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“Willie is an important part of our team culture and has developed into a leader on and off the field,” Riders GM and head coach Chris Jones said. “He is a versatile player with a rare combination of size and speed. At 27 years old he has lots of good football ahead of him.”

Jefferson started all 18 regular-season games for Saskatchewan last season, registering career highs with 45 defensive tackles and eight quarterback sacks and a league-leading 37 quarterback pressures.

He also added a blocked punt that he recovered and returned 22 yards for a touchdown. He was named a CFL All-Star and West Division All-Star.