Lions Signings

Photo Credit Mark Steffens

With the Rugby 7’s set to kickoff at BC Place which for those who have never attended in the past you’ve been missing out on a weekend of fun and excitement which only comes once a year.

In recent conversation with some Rugby fans they are hoping that management of the BC Lions are in attendance in hopes of possibly signing some who could or might fit into a Lions uniform.

That alone remains to be seen if they could play but regardless management of the BC Lions have their sights set on a couple of new signings.

In a recent press release sent out by Manager, Communications and Content Matt Baker the following was sent out to the media for distribution.

Enjoy the read;

The BC Lions have signed American DB Duke Dawson (5 ’11” 182 lbs) to the training camp roster.

He moves north after six seasons in the NFL, highlighted by a 26-game stint with the Denver Broncos from 2019-20 where he recorded 27 combined tackles (17 solo, 10 assisted) and two pass breakups. 

He then suffered a torn ACL in week 14 of the 2020 campaign and was assigned to the practice roster to begin 2021 after being activated from the PUP list.

The native of Cross City, Florida began 2022 in training camp with the Carolina Panthers before signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad that October.

A second-round pick (56^th overall) of the New England Patriots in 2018, Dawson didn’t see any action in his rookie season after suffering a hamstring injury in preseason. He was then traded to the Broncos in August 2019.

Dawson suited up in 48 games with the Florida Gators from 2014 -17 while registering 82 combined tackles (56 solo, 26 assisted), six interceptions, 23 pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles. 

The defensive playmaker earned Honourable Mention All-American honours by SB Nation in his senior season.

In addition to the above they also signed American quarterback Jake Dolegala (27) to a one-year contract.

He previously played two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders where he was pressed into starting duty for the final nine games after injuries to Trevor Harris and Mason Fine.

Dolegala finished the campaign 216/333 for 2,641 yards and 11 touchdowns while throwing for a career-high 409 yards in a loss at the Lions in week 17 on September 29.

The Hamburg, New York native originally signed with Saskatchewan ahead of 2022 and saw action in a pair of games that season while completing 16 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown.

Dolegala attended Central Connecticut State from 2015-18 and left as the program’s all-time leader with 8,129 passing yards to go along with 48 touchdown strikes while adding 452 rushing yards and 18 more majors on the ground in 44 games.

He then signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as a undrafted free agent and spent the entire 2019 season with the squad before a practice roster stint with New England in 2020. 

After attending 2021 camp in Green Bay, Dolegala was signed to the Miami Dolphins’ practice roster that October.

In addition they added free agent American DL Pete Robertson (31) to a one-year contract.

He also suited up with the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 2021-23, registering 86 defensive tackles, 21 sacks and six forced fumbles in 42 games. His nine sacks in the 2022 season tied him for fourth overall among CFL defenders.

The native of Longview, Texas had NFL practice roster stints in Arizona and Washington from 2017-19 and attended 2016 training camp with the Seattle Seahawks after signing as a undrafted free agent that year.

Robertson attended Texas Tech University from 2011-15, appearing in 40 games while racking up 227 tackles, 22 sacks, 39.5 tackles for a loss, a pair of interceptions, one touchdown, eight pass knockdowns, seven forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

As a junior, Robertson became the first Red Raider in the Big 12 era to record a sack in six straight games while earning All-Big 12 second team and AP All-Big 12 first team honours.