The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have agreed to terms with 2019 CFL most outstanding defensive player Willie Jefferson on a restructured contract.
Jefferson had a career-best 12 sacks, set a new CFL record for pass knockdowns by a defensive lineman with 16 and led the league with six forced fumbles in 2019, his first year with the Blue Bombers.
He added 24 tackles, an interception and two fumble recoveries.
Jefferson had three sacks and two forced fumbles in Winnipeg’s 2019 Grey Cup win over Hamilton.
He had signed a two-year contract extension in February 2020. The 2020 CFL season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jefferson, a three-time CFL all-star, has appeared in 94 regular-season games, with Edmonton, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, registering 43 sacks, 151 tackles, three interceptions, and 12 forced fumbles.
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The Blue Bombers also signed American defensive back Brandon Alexander to a one-year contract extension on Monday.
Alexander returns to the Bombers for a fourth season.
The Orlando native was limited to 10 games in 2019 due to injury. He was shifted from halfback to safety, helping the Blue Bombers win the Grey Cup with an interception against Hamilton.
Alexander has 126 tackles, four interceptions and four forced fumbles in three years with Winnipeg.
Winnipeg also announced that they added Winnipeg-born receiver Macho Bockru and Canadian defensive tackle Zach Houghron.
Bockru, who finished his U Sports tenure with the University of Manitoba in 2019, was a Canada West all star in his final year after leading the Bisons in receiving yards with 493 on 34 receptions.
Houghron, from Toronto, appeared in 22 games over four years with the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks. He had two sacks, 7.5 tackles and two pass knockdowns in seven games in 2019.
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