We’ve been keeping you up to date with how ex-Jets have been faring in the UFL during the offseason, and whether any players could be targets for NFL teams. Preseason begins this weekend, so let’s also see which former Jets are currently in camp up in Canada.
New to the league
Perhaps the most interesting ex-Jet to be joining the CFL this year is defensive back Craig James, whose versatility and special teams prowess should be a good fit in the CFL. You may remember him coming up big in that 2023 win over the Eagles when every other cornerback got injured.
James is signing for Ottawa but the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are bringing in two ex-Jets, Maalik Hall and Isaiah Zuber. Hall is playing defensive end having been injured while playing linebacker for the Jets in preseason. The wide receiver Zuber had been playing in the USFL and UFL in recent years.
Returning to the league
Defensive back Tevaughn Campbell has signed for Saskatchewan, having played four years in the CFL at the start of his career before getting a shot with the Jets. While he didn’t make the Jets, he did stick around in the NFL for six years, during which he started 11 games.
Wide receiver Rashard Davis tried and failed to make the Jets in 2022, having played four games in the CFL and caught one pass in 2021. Prior to that, he had played one NFL game in four years. He last played in the USFL in 2023.
On the move
Two ex-Jets have changed teams during the offseason with defensive tackle Jake Ceresna moving from Toronto to Edmonton and edge defender (and former Jets fullback) Julian Howsare moving from Calgary to Hamilton.
Ceresna had eight sacks last season and Howsare had five. They have 77 career sacks between them at the CFL level.
Remaining with their 2024 team
The biggest name who is back in 2025 is Chris “The Strevelation” Streveler, who returned to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season, albeit mostly in a short yardage role. He only threw 52 passes last year, racking up 343 yards and a touchdown, but he rushed for almost 300 yards and 10 scores.
Recent Jets draft pick James Morgan is back in Montreal, although he didn’t play in 2024.
Wide receivers Tim White (Hamilton) and Keon Hatcher (BC Lions) have been among the league leaders in recent years and White was again in 2024, but Hatcher’s production was down as he had 38 catches, 608 yards and no touchdowns. White ended up with 74 catches for 1,164 yards and eight touchdowns.
On defense – or should we say “defence”? – former day two pick Lorenzo Mauldin had a good year with eight sacks, although not as good as his award-winning 2022 season that saw him record 17 sacks.
At linebacker, Micah Awe had 73 tackles with the Lions, including four on special teams, but no sacks, interceptions or forced fumbles. DQ Thomas played two games for Hamilton and had nine tackles, including three on special teams.
Speaking of special teams, kicker Sergio Castillo had a decent year with 51 field goals made at a rate of just under 80 percent. He also made all but one of his 39 extra points.
Finally, Mario Alford returned a kickoff for a touchdown and averaged 24 yards per return. He also averaged over 10 yards per punt return and recorded his first catch since 2021. He returns to Saskatchewan.
We’ll keep you up to date with anything significant that happens in this league.