(Montreal) Almondo Sewell arrives a little earlier on the free agent market.
The Montreal Alouettes announced Thursday that they had accepted the veteran defensive lineman’s release request
The Canadian Football League free agent market opens Tuesday at noon.
Sewell, 37, had 14 tackles and a sack in 16 games last season. He helped the Alouettes win the Gray Cup.
Measuring six feet four inches and weighing 288 pounds, the American spent the last three seasons with the Alouettes, after wearing the colors of the Edmonton Elks from 2011 to 2019.
Sewell played in 185 career season games, recording 334 tackles and 69 sacks. He lifted the Gray Cup twice (also with the Elks, in 2015) and was part of the CFL all-star team on six occasions.
The Alouettes also announced that they had signed a contract with American defensive back Linden Stephens, who spent several years in the NFL.
Stephens played for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats for four seasons, from 2014 to 2017. In 44 games, he made 92 solo and 48 assisted tackles, six interceptions and forced a fumble.
Stephens, 28, has suited up for the New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Washington Commanders, Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 2022, he was selected by the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL Draft.