The Ottawa Redblacks have signed wide receiver Jalen Saunders of Stockton, California according to the Canadian Football League website. Saunders is returning to the CFL after playing the 2017 and 2018 seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He also has National Football League experience as he played nine games with the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets in the 2014 regular season.
While playing college football in the United States, Saunders played for the University of Fresno and University of Oklahoma. He was drafted in the fourth round, 104th overall, by the Jets in the 2014 NFL Draft.
One problem that Saunders faced while in the NFL was hanging on to the football in punt returns. He had two fumbles (one lost) in Jets losses to the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. Saunders was then released by the Jets on September 29, 2014 before signing on with the Saints on November 19, 2014. Saunders had replaced Brandin Cooks in New Orleans lineup. Cooks had broken his thumb and New Orleans was in need of a receiver. Saunders had one catch for seven yards in six games for the Saints. It came from Saints quarterback Drew Brees in a 30-14 New Orleans loss to the Atlanta Falcons on December 21, 2014.
However it is the CFL is where Saunders has flourished. In 2017 with Hamilton, he had 76 catches for a team high 1170 yards and four touchdowns. In 2018, Saunders had 45 catches for 739 yards and two touchdowns. Saunders joined the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL for 2020, but his contract was terminated when the league declared bankruptcy on April 13.
