Lionbackers.com

National receiver Jevon Cottoy is back with the Lions. The former Langley Ram was the breakout star of the 2019 training camp, using his size and excellent hands to beat out all rookie American receivers and earn a spot as the fifth receiver. He opted out of his three-year contract in 2020 to seek NFL opportunities but has now opted back in. The Lions barely scratched the surface of his talents in 2019. I don’t think he’ll take reps from national starters Lemar Durant and Shaq Johnson but he can contribute regularly as a big H-back or tight end.

https://www.bclions.com/2021/06/21/jevo ... 21-season/

That's the great news I've been waiting to hear. Very excited to see him join Burnham, Rhymes, Durant and Shaq J as the main 5-pack.

Good news indeed. Definitely bolsters the receiving core and ratio.

Lots of comings and goings the past few days as players ponder their careers or are eager to play again.

For sure BC FAN. Cottoy returns to what should be a much more competitive environment among the receiving core compared to when he arrived as a rookie in 2019. Rythmes is a lock to join Burnham as a 2nd American starter then it will be interesting to see how they employ Lucky Whitehead's skillset into their offensive scheme.

Elks longtime radio analyst Dave Campbell said on twitter yesterday DB Kenny Ladler will be retiring. Nothing from the Lions yet after he was slotted in as the starting safety in the initial depth chart but that would be disappointing given his track record in the league before bouncing around the NFL for a couple of years. Fortunately, it's an area where the Lions have their most depth.

Also the return of Anthony Thompson announced yesterday giving the Leos more national flexibility. Been a somewhat strange career and can't believe he is now 31 (drafted when he was 26). Two year starter at safety (2017-18) then goes unsigned as a FA until Hervey decides to bring him back well into the 2019 pre-season. He starts on the corner in week #3 and remained there for two more games before finding his way to the injured list for the balance of the year.

The Ladler retirement is already recorded in CFL.ca transactions. It is disappointing but there will continue to be a growing list of retirements of veterans before camps open that will impact all teams. All teams are getting hit by retirements, some notable. The Lions will not be exempt from that. It's not a matter of whether any good vets retire but rather who and how many will be added to the list in the next 2 weeks. As for Thompson being added it looks like his signing was to replace NAT DB Derek Jones who also retired this week.

Great to see the return of Cottoy as he has a great upside. I'm guessing that NFL evaluators were looking for someone with more experience to go along with his size but his size and some seasoning in the CFL may get him another NFL look in the future.