Hughes ready for return to Riderville

Chuckie is back!

Just ahead of TRAINING CAMP 2022, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed veteran defensive end Charleston Hughes. Hughes spent last season with the Toronto Argonauts where he played in just 9 games.

The 38-year-old admits he made a mistake leaving Rider Nation after the 2019 campaign. “I should’ve never left,” the defensive end told the Sports Cage. “When I went to Toronto, I went there with idea that I was going to be the pass rusher I was in Saskatchewan but as soon as training camp was over, I knew I made the wrong decision.”

Many people wonder does Hughes, who recorded just 2 sacks and 19 tackles last season, have anything left in the tank? “People have been asking that every year for the last 7 years,” Hughes replied. “Everybody points to last year and thinks I finally fell off, but I’m telling you that’s not the case. I’ve been training with guys way younger than me and if I didn’t tell them my age, they’d never know I’m thirty-eight! I’ve never had a serious injury; my joints don’t hurt so my body isn’t telling me to stop.

The six-foot-one, 246-pound pass rusher, who has led the CFL in sacks five times in his career, is pumped to be home. ” It’ feels comfortable, although I played 10 years in Calgary and only two in Regina, it feels like I spent a decade in Saskatchewan.”

Barring a work stoppage Hughes and his teammates are expected to open camp Sunday in Saskatoon. The Sports Cage with Michael Ball will be on site providing comprehensive coverage.

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