Hamilton Tiger-Cats re-sign receiver/returner Wooden Sr., release veteran Alford

HAMILTON — Isaiah Wooden Sr. is back with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The American receiver/returner re-signed with the CFL club on Monday after joining the Cleveland Browns in the off-season. The Ticats released veteran receiver/returner Mario Alford, who signed with Hamilton as a free agent in February.

The five-foot-nine, 170-pound Wooden appeared in 15 games with the Ticats over the 2024 and ’25 seasons. He had 45 kickoff returns for 1,185 yards with two TDs while adding 38 punt returns for 570 yards and one touchdown.

In 2025, Wooden led the CFL in punt-return average (15.0 yards) and was ranked second in kickoff-return average (26.3 yards).

Alford played in 11 regular-season games with the Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2025. He returned 44 punts for 476 yards and 31 kickoff returns for 876 yards with one touchdown.

Hamilton also released running back Shane Watts and defensive back Gavin Gibson, both Americans. The club also signed running back Trent Battle and defensive back Stephen Douglas, both Americans.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2026.

The Canadian Press