The 2025 National Football League season\u00a0kicks off on Thursday night\u00a0with the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles hosting\u00a0NFC East rivals, the Dallas Cowboys.<\/p>\n
With the NFL regular season fast approaching, Canadian Football League teams are watching the waiver wire and free agents closely to see if there are opportunities to improve their team. That includes the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who have connected with Canadian offensive lineman Kyle Hergel. The Green and White selected\u00a0Hergel in the first round, third overall during\u00a0the 2024 CFL Draft.<\/p>\n
The Boston College alumnus dressed for eight games in 2024 with the New Orleans Saints, playing 45 offensive snaps and 26 on special teams, spending the rest of the year on the team\u2019s practice roster after being signed as an undrafted free agent. The 25-year-old Hergel was released\u00a0after\u00a0Saints\u00a0training camp and has passed through\u00a0NFL waivers unclaimed. Riders’ head coach Corey Mace\u00a0has remained in touch with the Toronto native.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve spoken, but he\u2019s not here.\u00a0I don\u2019t know the answer if he\u2019s planning to come up or\u00a0waiting for an opportunity down there,\u00a0that\u2019s his choice, rightfully so,” Mace said and added it’s\u00a0not out of the norm for him to have contact with Hergel.<\/p>\n
\u201cKyle and myself,\u00a0since we grabbed him last year, we keep in contact every other week throughout\u00a0the process. He\u2019s a Rider fan for sure,\u00a0he watches every game, even when he\u2019s nowhere near the province. We\u2019ll see, but our focus is the guys who are here now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hergel isn\u2019t the only Canadian offensive lineman the Riders have kept their eye on,\u00a0Sidy Sow was selected in the sixth round, 48th\u00a0overall, during\u00a0the 2023 CFL Draft by Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n
Sow\u00a0spent the last two seasons with the New England Patriots, who selected him in the fourth round during\u00a0the 2023 NFL Draft. The 27-year-old Granby, Quebec native\u00a0was among the team\u2019s final roster cuts this year, but Mace hasn\u2019t directly contacted Sow.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have a relationship with him, as he was drafted prior to me getting here.\u00a0I haven\u2019t had any chance to share a relationship with the guy. I met him in passing when I visited the Patriots last year,” Mace explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old suited up in 27 games for New England, starting 14, including 13 in his rookie NFL season.<\/p>\n
After Sunday\u2019s 34-30 Labour Day Classic win, the Riders are preparing for\u00a0Saturday\u2019s rematch in Winnipeg with the Blue Bombers.<\/p>\n