Calgary Stampeders sign OL Derek Dennis

The Calgary Stampeders signed offensive lineman Derek Dennis to a one-year contract on Wednesday. This is Dennis’s third stint with the Stampeders.

Derek Dennis did not play in 2021. He signed with Edmonton in January of 2021 but decided to step away from football to focus on family. Dennis played 72 games in five seasons with the Calgary Stampeders (57) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (15).

Dennis signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent from Temple. He would have brief stints with the New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and Carolina Panthers. Derek Dennis also played in the Arena Football League for the Arizona Rattlers.

In 2015, Dennis signed with the Stampeders and debuted in October 2015. In 2016, he started 18 games and was part of the offense allowing the fewest sacks (20) in the CFL season. He won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award, CFL All-Star, and CFL West All-Star.

After spending a year with the Roughriders, Dennis returned to the Stampeders. He started in 18 games and helped the Stampeders win the 106^th Grey Cup championship over the Ottawa Redblacks. He was named a CFL West All-Star for the second time in his career.

Dennis played one more season in Calgary before heading to the XFL. He was designated to the Team 9 practice squad and later signed with the New York Guardians. His contract was terminated after the XFL suspended operations.

In addition to Dennis, the Stampeders signed running back Kayden Johnson. The 25-year-old from Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, was drafted by the BC Lions in the seventh round (58^th pick) in the 2020 CFL Draft out of York University.

Kayden Johnson played 25 games in four seasons at York with 248 carries for 1,199 yards, six touchdowns, 34 catches for 390 yards, and one touchdown. Johnson finished his career with the seventh-most rushing touchdowns and tenth-most rushing yards in team history.