The Toronto Argonauts have announced the signing of defensive linemen Shawn Lemon and DeWayne Hendrix. Both players are American and have previous experience with the team.
Shawn Lemon, who stands at six-foot-two and weighs 242 pounds, returns to the Argonauts for his third stint. He is a three-time Grey Cup champion, having won in 2014, 2017, and 2023. Lemon has also been recognized as a two-time Divisional All-CFL defensive lineman and a one-time All-CFL defensive lineman. He most recently played for the Montreal Alouettes, contributing to their 110th Grey Cup victory in 2023.
Lemon’s professional football career began in 2011 with Winnipeg and Saskatchewan, followed by a period in the Arena Football League in early 2012. He returned to the CFL with Edmonton in 2012. His career has included stops with various teams, such as Calgary, where he secured a Grey Cup in 2014, and brief periods in the NFL with Pittsburgh and San Francisco between 2013 and 2016. He joined the Argonauts via trade in 2016, recording 14 sacks in 16 games and earning an East Division All-CFL defensive lineman selection. He won his second Grey Cup a year later.
After playing 35 games in Ontario’s capital, Lemon was traded to BC before returning to Toronto in 2019. He later had another stint with BC and Edmonton before a notable season in 2022 with Calgary, where he accumulated 14 sacks and five forced fumbles, earning him the West Division nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player and his first All-CFL defensive lineman honour. He joined BC for a third time in early 2023, then moved to Montreal in July of the same year, where he lifted the Grey Cup for a third time at the end of the season.
Across 147 regular season games, Lemon has recorded 270 defensive tackles, 103 sacks, 30 forced fumbles, and two interceptions. He has played for eight of the nine CFL teams, with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats being the only team not on his resume. Lemon has 103 career sacks, placing him among the league’s top 15 all-time.
Hendrix returns to Toronto
DeWayne Hendrix, who is six-foot-four and weighs 275 pounds, has also rejoined the Argonauts. He was recently released by the team before his return. Hendrix played 13 games with BC last season, where he registered 21 defensive tackles and four sacks.
Hendrix spent the first three seasons of his CFL career with Toronto from 2021 to 2023. During this period, he accumulated eight sacks and 65 defensive tackles in 38 games, contributing to the Argonauts’ 109th Grey Cup win in 2022. He later moved to the Ticats in 2024. Over his five-year CFL career, Hendrix has tallied 103 defensive tackles, 16 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Prior to his re-signing, Hendrix did not dress for Toronto’s first five regular-season games, spending time on the one-game injured list and reserve roster. He was cut in January before receiving an offseason roster bonus.
The Argonauts (2-4) are scheduled to visit the BC Lions (1-4) at BC Place Stadium on Saturday, July 25. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. EDT. The Argonauts recently lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, while the Lions were unsuccessful in their comeback attempt against the Edmonton Elks.
The weather forecast for Vancouver on game day indicates a high of 22 degrees with a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio coverage will be available on TSN 1050 in Toronto and 730 CKNW (English) or Sher-E-Punjab Radio AM 600 (Punjabi) in Vancouver.
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Source: cfl.ca
