The Montreal Alouettes announced on Monday that they have signed James Letcher Jr to a year contract extension preventing him from becoming a free agent. The Alouettes have also signed American defensive lineman Buddha Jones to a 2-year contract.

James Letcher Jr. returned 47 kickoffs this past season averaging 23.7 yards per return and returned 88 punts for 14.2 yards per return. He was named the team’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player this past season. He played in 4 regular season games in his rookie season with Montreal in 2023 and then in all 3 playoff games on the team’s way to winning a Grey Cup. Letcher Jr. has a punt return touchdown in each of the past 2 seasons.

“James is one of the best returners in the CFL; he can change the outcome of a game in a split second with his long returns,“ stated Alouettes’ General Manager Danny Maciocia. “He is definitely a player who has an impact on our team. We’re happy to have him back this season.”

Buddha Jones played his first 2 seasons with Kent State before playing for Troy from 2021 to 2023. He played in 14 games with 14 starts in each of his last 2 seasons with Troy which saw him record 57 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, a forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries, and a touchdown. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2024 but was placed on injured reserve in June and later waived from injured reserve in early September.