The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed wide receiver Jaelen Gill and linebacker Jayden McDonald on Tuesday.
Jaelen Gill is six foot and weighs 185 pounds. The 26-year-old from Westerville, Ohio, signed with the Cleveland Browns on June 4, 2025. The Browns released him on July 22, 2025.
The Los Angeles Chargers signed Gill as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. In 2024, he made three catches for 27 yards, five kick returns for 134 yards, and three punt returns for 50 yards in three preseason games. The Chargers released him on August 27, 2024. The Cleveland Browns signed Gill on December 10, 2024, and finished the season on the practice squad.
The San Antonio Brahmas signed Gill on March 13, 2025. He attended training camp and was released on March 20, 2025. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Gill on May 7, 2025. They released him on May 14, 2025.
Collegiately, Gill played two seasons at Ohio State (2018-19) with seven catches for 62 yards and one touchdown in eight games for the Buckeyes. Next, he transferred to Boston College (2020-22) with 80 catches for 1,092 yards, two touchdowns, 28 kick returns for 572 yards, 19 punt returns for 125 yards, two tackles (2 solos), one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble in 20 games for the Eagles.
Then, he transferred to Fresno State in 2023 with 49 catches for 516 yards, six touchdowns, 10 carries for 24 yards, completing 2 of 3 passes (67%) for 51 yards, two touchdowns, 25 kick returns for 527 yards, and one punt return for 10 yards in 13 games for the Bulldogs.
Jayden McDonald is six foot and weighs 235 pounds. The 26-year-old from Suwanee, Georgia, began his collegiate career at Iowa (2018-19), where he did not play a game for the Hawkeyes.
Next, McDonald transferred to Troy University (2020-23) with 191 tackles (98 solos, 93 assists), 22 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 35 games for the Trojans. In 2023, he made 75 tackles (40 solos, 35 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 13 games.
Then, McDonald transferred to the University of Connecticut in 2024 with a career-high 125 tackles (51 solos, 74 assists), 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, and four pass breakups in 13 games for the Huskies. He was named an All-American by HERO Sports.
