The B.C. Lions have signed American defensive back Essang Bassey to their training camp roster.
The five-foot-10, 190-pound cornerback originally signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2020, cracking the roster for 12 games as a rookie and making three starts. Bassey would flip-flop between the Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers until the end of the 2023 season, playing 43 total games and recording 60 tackles, four tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, and an interception.
The 27-year-old had training camp stints with the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders in 2024 and 2025, respectively, but failed to make the active roster.
Prior to his pro career, Bassey played 52 games over four seasons at Wake Forest University. He finished with 228 total tackles, 50 pass breakups, five interceptions, three fumble recoveries and one sack, earning second-team All-ACC honours in 2018 and a third-team selection in 2019.
The B.C. Lions signed defensive lineman Casey Sayles and linebacker Darnell Sankey after they were released by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes, respectively, though the team was relatively inactive in free agency. The team’s major departure was All-CFL offensive lineman Jarell Broxton, who signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Lions hold the seventh overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m. EDT. All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. B.C. will play its first preseason game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, May 23, and its first regular-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, June 13.
In 2025, B.C. finished second in the West Division standings with an 11-7 record. They beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final but lost the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Franchise quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions to be named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.