Breaking: Huge Boost As Calgary Stampeders Bags Four Elite Signing To Bolster Roster

The Calgary Stampeders have added four American players to their expanded practice roster, including linebacker Marquel Lee.

Lee, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, earned a starting middle linebacker position during training camp. He appeared in 45 games for the Raiders, compiling 115 tackles and six tackles for loss. Standing six-foot-three and weighing 234 pounds, Lee faced injury issues in 2019 and was placed on the physically unable to perform list before being waived the following year, causing him to miss the entire 2020 season.

After a stint with the Buffalo Bills, Lee returned to the Raiders in Las Vegas for one more season and concluded his NFL journey back with the Bills in 2022. At 28, he made a comeback in 2024 with the UFL’s Arlington Renegades, recording 51 total tackles.

During his college career at Wake Forest, Lee played 48 games over four seasons. In 2016, he was named first-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after leading the team with 105 tackles, which included 20 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. He finished his collegiate career with 291 tackles and 14.5 sacks.

Joining Lee on the practice roster are defensive linemen Jett Bush and Brandon Matterson, along with receiver Jesiah Irish.

Bush played 58 games across five seasons at the University of Texas, accumulating 63 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. The six-foot-two, 243-pound edge rusher recently participated in rookie mini-camp with the New England Patriots.

Irish played 56 games over five years at Oregon State, contributing as both a receiver and kick returner. He recorded 27 receptions for 456 yards and two touchdowns, along with 18 carries for 114 yards and one touchdown. The five-foot-11, 176-pound speedster had 22 kickoff returns for 478 yards and 16 punt returns for 135 yards during his time as a Beaver, later attending rookie camp with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.

Matterson appeared in 59 games over six seasons at the University of Texas at San Antonio, amassing 101 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles. A third-team all-American Athletic Conference selection in 2023, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos and also spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during training camp.

In a separate move, the Stampeders released American running back B.J. Emmons, who played in four games this season but had not participated since Week 5. Although he had a strong preseason performance, he saw limited action in the regular season with just 16 carries for 44 yards, five catches for 56 yards, and two kickoff returns for 57 yards.

The Stampeders (4-9-1) will return to the field on Friday, October 4, as they face the B.C. Lions (7-8) at 10:00 p.m. EDT.