For the second time in two weeks, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have released one of their starting defensive players as Hamilton prepares for free agency in February. Last week, the Tiger-Cats released veteran defensive tackle Casey Sayles in what appeared to be a move to free up salary cap money. This week, the Tiger-Cats announced that they have released 2025 1st-round draft pick Devin Veresuk, but he is doing so to pursue NFL opportunities.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced the release of National linebacker Devin Veresuk on their X account and with a press release.
“He consistently put in the work and handled things the right way. We’re proud of what he accomplished here and are supportive of him as he explores this next opportunity.” 👏
We’ve released linebacker and East Division Most Outstanding Rookie Devin Veresuk to pursue an… pic.twitter.com/OVhVi0H135
— Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats) January 12, 2026
Devin Veresuk had a great rookie season in 2025, starting in all 18 regular-season games and recording 69 solo tackles, 2.0 quarterback sacks, and an interception that Veresuk returned for a defensive touchdown. Recently, Veresuk had received attention from several NFL franchises that invited Veresuk to work out for their teams. Those NFL teams included the New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Veresuk is the third Hamilton player to be released to pursue NFL opportunities. Last week, wide receiver Isaiah Wooden and punter Nik Constantinou signed contracts with the Cleveland Browns. Veresuk has prototypical size and speed for an NFL linebacker with a 6’2″, 240-pound frame, and a 4.47-second 40-yard dash time. A few weeks ago, the Tiger-Cats signed American linebacker Craig Young, who was signed because Hamilton expected Veresuk to get an NFL opportunity.
Tiger-Cats Sign American Running Back Avery Morrow
In addition to releasing Veresuk, the Tiger-Cats continue to add more prospects to their 2026 roster. Hamilton announced earlier today that they have signed American running back Avery Morrow. Morrow will get a chance to prove that he has what it takes to make an impact for the Tiger-Cats during their rookie mini-camp.
Avery Morrow is a 6’0″, 210-pound native of Seattle, Washington. Before signing with the Tiger-Cats, Morrow played college football at the University of Nevada-Reno from 2020 until 2021, where he played in 19 games for the Wolf Pack. In 2022, Morrow transferred to Colorado State University, where he played in 34 games for the Rams from 2022 until 2024. During his college football career, Morrow ran the ball 463 times for 2,123 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. In addition, Morrow had 49 pass receptions for 254 receiving yards.
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