Riders sign former NFL back Tre Mason

SASKATOON, SASK — The Saskatchewan Roughriders have added another name to the fold at running back, and a big one at that, signing former St. Louis Ram Tre Mason.

The deal was announced Wednesday morning.

Still just 24, Mason was a third-round draft pick by the Rams in 2014, going on to play two seasons with the team and rushing for 972 yards. The 5-foot-8, 207-pound back had a big rookie season, totaling 765 yards and four touchdowns with a 4.3-yard average.

The competition at American running back is heated in Riders camp. Trent Richardson was added to the suspended list for the start of camp, while Marcus Thigpen will miss the first two games of the season after being handed a two-game suspension following a positive drug test.

While Canadian Jerome Messam figures to start, Chris Jones is likely to pair him up with an American out of the backfield.

Another former Ram in Zac Stacy is also in the fold for the Green and White.