The B.C. Lions signed former Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Jonathan Kongbo on Sunday. In addition, the Lions released defensive lineman Shawn Lemon and linebacker Jordan Herdman-Reed.
Jonathan Kongbo is six foot five and weighs 256 pounds. The 27-year-old from Kinshasa, Zaire, started the season on the Denver Broncos practice squad before being promoted. He played three games for the Broncos in 2022 with one tackle. After the three games, he returned to the practice squad.
Kongbo was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the first round (5th pick) in the 2019 CFL Draft. He made 12 tackles and one sack in 12 games in his rookie season and helped Winnipeg win the 107th Grey Cup. After the season, he left for the NFL and signed with the San Francisco 49ers in January 2020 but was released in August.
In 2021, he returned to Winnipeg with 17 tackles (16 DT, 1 ST) and three sacks in 14 games, helping Winnipeg win the 108th Grey Cup. After the season, he left Winnipeg again and signed with the Denver Broncos.
Collegiately, Kongbo played one season at Arizona Western College in 2015 with 55 tackles (18 solo, 37 assists), 16 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick in 11 games for the Matadors. Then, Kongbo transferred to Tennessee (2016-18) with 51 tackles (21 solo, 30 assists), 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions for 69 yards, and two pass breakups in 30 games for the Volunteers.
Shawn Lemon is six foot one and weighs 242 pounds. The 34-year-old from Waldorf, Maryland, signed with the Lions in February after making 29 tackles, 14 sacks, and five forced fumbles for the Calgary Stampeders in 2022. He was named a CFL West All-Star and CFL All-Star in 2022. Lemon played two seasons in Calgary with 55 tackles, 22 sacks, and seven forced fumbles in 28 games.
Lemon began his CFL career on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice squad in 2011. Later, he signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and played one game in 2011.
Afterward, Lemon had stints with the Orlando Predators (AFL) and Sioux Falls Storm (IFL) in 2012 before returning to the CFL in 2012 with the Edmonton Eskimos. He played 12 games with 15 tackles, six sacks, and one forced fumble.
In 2013, Lemon signed with the Calgary Stampeders. He played two seasons in Calgary with 44 tackles, 16 sacks, one interception, and eight forced fumbles in 24 games. He is a member of the 2014 Grey Cup championship team.
After Calgary, Lemon left and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and later the San Francisco 49ers but returned to the CFL in 2015 signing with the Ottawa Redblacks. He made 13 tackles, six sacks, and three forced fumbles in nine games. He was named a CFL East All-Star after the 2015 season.
In 2016, Lemon returned to Saskatchewan for his second stint. He played one game with one forced fumble before he was traded to the Toronto Argonauts. In Toronto, he made 22 tackles, 14 sacks, and four forced fumbles in 16 games. After the season, he signed a contract extension.
During the 2017 season, Lemon made 18 tackles, eight sacks, and one forced fumble in 12 games helping the Argonauts win the 105th Grey Cup. It was Lemon’s second Grey Cup championship.
Lemon began the 2018 season in Toronto playing five games with five tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble before he was traded to the B.C. Lions. He played 13 games with 17 tackles and ten sacks for the Lions. In 2019, he returned to Toronto as a free agent with 15 tackles and one sack in four games before he was again traded to the B.C. Lions. Lemon made 19 tackles, eight sacks, and three forced fumbles in ten games for the Lions.
Collegiately, Lemon played four seasons at the University of Akron (2007-10) with 102 tackles (53 solo, 49 assists), 23 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, one pass breakup, six forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries in 41 games for the Zips. In his final season, Lemon made 39 tackles, seven sacks, one pass breakup, three forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries in 12 games.
Jordan Herdman-Reed is six foot and weighs 235 pounds. The 28-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, signed with the Lions in February after making four tackles in eight games for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2022.
The Lions drafted Herdman-Reed in the seventh round (60th pick) in the 2017 CFL Draft. He played three seasons in British Columbia with 139 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble in 52 games.
Then, Herdman-Reed left the Lions and signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2021. He played two seasons in Saskatchewan with seven tackles in 17 games.
Collegiately, Herdman-Reed played four seasons at Simon Fraser (2013-16) with 226 tackles (94 solo, 132 assists), 15 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 25 games for the Red Leafs.
