Argonauts bolster defensive line
The Toronto Argonauts have announced the signing of veteran defensive linemen Shawn Lemon and DeWayne Hendrix. The American players officially joined the CFL team on Tuesday, marking significant additions to the Argonauts’ roster.
Lemon, a defensive lineman standing six-foot-two and weighing 242 pounds, is returning to the Argonauts for his third period with the club. He previously played for the team from 2016-18 and again in 2019. Lemon is a three-time Grey Cup champion, having secured titles in 2014, 2017, and 2023. His career statistics include 270 tackles, 103 sacks, 30 forced fumbles, and two interceptions across 147 regular-season games.
Lemon’s professional football journey began in 2011. He has played for numerous CFL teams, including the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2011), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2011, 2016), Edmonton Elks (2012), Calgary Stampeders (2013-14, 2021-22), Ottawa Redblacks (2015), B.C. Lions (2018, 2019, 2023), and Montreal Alouettes (2023-25). The only CFL team Lemon has not been associated with during his career is the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Lemon’s recent career path and suspensions
Lemon’s recent career has seen several developments. He announced his retirement on April 10, 2024, but was subsequently suspended indefinitely by the CFL approximately two weeks later. This suspension was due to betting on league games while he was with Calgary in 2021. Despite the suspension, Lemon came out of retirement to participate in Montreal’s initial four regular-season games in 2024 while his appeal was ongoing. His suspension then took immediate effect on July 4, 2024.
After becoming a free agent in the off-season, Lemon was reinstated by the CFL on July 16, 2025. However, his reinstatement came with a condition: he was required to serve a two-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy upon signing with a new team. Following his reinstatement, Lemon re-signed with Montreal and played in five regular-season games for the Alouettes that year. He also contributed to the Alouettes’ victory in the 110th Grey Cup in 2023.
Lemon’s extensive experience also includes stints in the Arena Football League in early 2012 and brief periods with NFL teams such as Pittsburgh and San Francisco between 2013 and 2016. During his second tenure with Calgary in 2022, he recorded 14 sacks and five forced fumbles, earning him recognition as the West Division nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player and an All-CFL defensive lineman.
Hendrix returns to Toronto
DeWayne Hendrix, a defensive lineman measuring six-foot-four and weighing 275 pounds, also rejoins the Argonauts. Hendrix spent his first three CFL seasons with Toronto from 2021-23, during which he contributed to the Argonauts’ victory in the 109th Grey Cup in 2022. He had re-signed with the franchise on January 19, but was released last week after not appearing in any games.
Hendrix’s career includes time with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2024 and the B.C. Lions in 2025. Last season, while playing for Vancouver, he registered 21 tackles and four sacks. Over his entire CFL career, Hendrix has accumulated 103 tackles, 16 sacks, and two forced fumbles. During his initial three seasons with Toronto, he recorded eight sacks and 65 defensive tackles in 38 games.
Both players bring significant experience to the Argonauts’ defensive line, with Lemon’s career spanning multiple teams and championships, and Hendrix returning to a familiar environment in Toronto. The signings were officially announced on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
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Source: sportsnet.ca
