The Ottawa Redblacks are set to sign defensive backs Nafees Lyon and Robert Priester once free agency opens next Tuesday according to The Canadian Press writer Dan Ralph.
Nafees Lyon is five foot ten and weighs 184 pounds. The 28-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, made 31 tackles, one tackle on special teams, and one interception in 10 games for the Alouettes in 2024.
The Edmonton Elks signed Lyons as a free agent on January 11, 2021. He played two seasons in Edmonton making 80 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and four interceptions in 19 games.
The Montreal Alouettes acquired Lyons, along with defensive lineman Thomas Costigan in a trade from the Edmonton Elks for defensive lineman Avery Ellis and a 2023 third-round pick on August 31, 2022. Lyons had 25 tackles, one forced fumble, one sack, and one interception in eight games for Edmonton before being traded to Montreal.
In 2022, Lyon had 28 tackles, one interception, and one touchdown in six games. A year later, he made three tackles in one game for the Montreal Alouettes in 2023 against the Ottawa Redblacks before suffering a season-ending knee injury when Montreal went on to win the 110th Grey Cup over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Collegiately, Lyons played five seasons at Charlotte (2016-20) making 137 tackles (96 solos, 41 assists), five tackles for loss, two interceptions, 13 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 13 punt returns for 95 yards in 40 games for the 49ers.
Robert Priester is five foot nine and weighs 180 pounds. The 31-year-old from Tampa, Florida, signed with the Toronto Argonauts on July 1, 2024. In 2024, he made 28 tackles, one sack, one interception, and one forced fumble in 11 games. In the 111th Grey Cup, Priester intercepted Zach Collaros for a pick-six 61-yard touchdown helping Toronto beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41-24 for their second Grey Cup title in three seasons.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Priester on May 22, 2018. He made seven tackles and one pass breakup in two games. After the season, he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2019 and spent the season on the practice squad.
In 2020, Priester played for the Tampa Bay Vipers (XFL) making eight tackles (7 solo, 2 assist), one sack, and one interception in five games before the league suspended operations due to the pandemic. In 2021, he returned to the Edmonton Elks and later returned to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2022 but was released at the end of training camp.
The Toronto Argonauts signed Priester as a free agent on May 21, 2022. In 2022, Priester made 28 tackles, five tackles on special teams, and two forced fumbles in 12 games. In 2023, Priester made three tackles in five games. Priester’s contract was not renewed and became a free agent on February 13, 2024.
Collegiately, Priester played three seasons at Wyoming (2015-17) making 102 tackles (73 solos, 29 assists), six tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, 12 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 35 games for the Cowboys.
