Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Weston Dressler hoists the cup after beating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Grey Cup, Sunday, November 24, 2013 in Regina. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank GunnFRANK GUNN/The Canadian Press
Weston Dressler is back with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The veteran slotback re-signed with the CFL club Wednesday after passing his physical. The Riders announced that Dresser will also don his usual No. 7 jersey number after quarterback Seth Doege made the change to No. 9.
Dressler was released by the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday and cleared NFL waivers the following day, making him an unrestricted CFL free agent.
The Ottawa Redblacks also made a formal contract offer to Dressler on Wednesday, and the Calgary Stampeders were reportedly in the mix for his services.
The Riders released the 29-year-old Dressler in January — roughly two weeks before he was scheduled to become a CFL free agent — so he could explore his options south of the border. Shortly after working out for the Chiefs, Dressler signed with the NFL club and donned No. 13 in honour of Saskatchewan's rabid football fans, affectionately dubbed the 13th Man.
The five-foot-eight, 179-pound native of Bismarck, N.D., spent his entire six-year CFL career with Saskatchewan, registering 442 catches for 6,531 yards and 43 TDs. He surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving plateau five times, including the last four years.
Dressler had five catches for a game-high 81 yards and a TD in Saskatchewan's 45-23 Grey Cup victory over Hamilton last November at Regina's Mosaic Stadium. A two-time all-star, Dressler was the CFL's top rookie in 2008.
Dressler appeared in three exhibition games with Kansas City, recording a 19-yard kickoff return.