The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are working to maintain the wide receiving unit that has enabled them to rank among the top passing attacks in the CFL over the last two seasons. Despite several wide receivers moving on from the Tiger-Cats organization, Hamilton is doing what it needs to do to reload at the wide receiver position. In 2026, Kenny Lawler will return to Hamilton as their top passing target, and earlier today, the Tiger-Cats added National wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. as a solid complementary target.
In addition to Lawler and Gittens Jr., the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have also decided to re-sign American wide receiver Shemar Bridges.
Over the last two seasons, American wide receiver Shemar Bridges has worked himself into a fixture in the Tiger-Cats’ explosive passing game. During the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Bridges played in 33 games, caught 116 passes for 1,277 yards, and scored 6 touchdowns. Bringing Bridges back allows the Tiger-Cats to keep the primary components that have helped them rank among the best passing teams in the CFL.
Before coming to the CFL, the 6’4″, 208-pound Bridges spent two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. Collegiately, Bridges played at NCAA Division II Fort Valley State from 2019 until 2021. While playing at Fort Valley, Bridges caught 92 passes for 1,358 yards and scored 7 touchdowns.
Bridges large frame makes him a big target in the Tiger-Cats offensive game plan, and his height and catch radius allow him to make catches over defensive backs in the CFL consistently. Over the last two seasons, Bridges has shown that he is a reliable target for Bo Levi Mitchell, and in return, he has seen an increased volume of passes coming his way. In contrast to Lawler, Bridges lacks the elite speed to be a consistent deep threat in the CFL, but his attention to detail makes him an effective possession receiver for Hamilton.
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