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Argonauts Sign Janarion Grant, Bolster Special Teams

The Argonauts have added All-Star returner Janarion Grant. Grant wowed fans in Winnipeg over 4 seasons and hopes to do the same in Toronto.

Grant had spent the last 4 seasons in Winnipeg where he won two Grey Cups as the primary returner. In Winnipeg Grant returned 176 punts a total of 2,267 yards scoring 7 touchdowns. His best statistical season was 2022 when he scored 2 touchdowns on 63 returns and led the league with 817 punt return yards. Grant took back 87 kickoffs for the Bombers, good for 2,091 yards and 1 touchdown.

Perhaps his most memorable of his many returns was in the 2022 Grey Cup against Toronto when he brought a punt back 102 yards for a touchdown. After joining Winnipeg from Hamilton in 2019 Grant scored 2 punt return touchdowns in his Bomber debut. He finished the game with 222 punt return yards, the third most in a single CFL game.

Grant missed most of 2023 due to injury.

Since the Argonauts lost 2023 Most Outstanding Special Teams Player Javon Leake to Edmonton in the off season they have been trying to fill the role. Rookie receiver Jordan Byrd took 3 kickoffs back 61 yards on Saturday in Montreal. He also returned 4 punts for 65 yards with his longest return going 37 yards. Second year argonaut running back Deonata McMahon took a single kickoff 23 yards and Xavier Malone returned a single punt for only 3 yards.

Malone has since been cut by the Argonauts as well as American defensive back Kary Vincent Jr. Announced the same day was the addition of American offensive lineman Dare Rosenthal. Standing 6’7, 290 lbs the 24 year old Rosenthal spent 3 years playing for the LSU Tigers before finishing his college days with the Kentucky Wildcats. He spent last year in the XFL but did not have an opportunity to play.

As for who will be fielding kicks this in Hamilton remains to be seen. It is safe to assume Grant will likely get some looks but Jordan Byrd may still have a chance to earn his spot on the roster by proving himself to be a dual threat receiver.


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Matthew Harrison
Since my I attended my first Blue Bomber game at Canad Inns Stadium in the very early 2000s, I have been a passionate follower of the CFL. Watching from home week in and week out or spending an evening losing my voice at a game, I have always loved this league. This year I'll be covering the Calgary Stampeders and the Toronto Argonauts, two promising teams, each with a chip on their shoulder coming into 2024. Follow me here to stay up to date with what you need to know going into gameday.
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