The B.C. Lions released defensive back Josh Hagerty on Tuesday. Hagerty was suspended for two games for punching Montreal Alouettes running back Liam Talbot in the groin area last month. According to 3DownNation, Talbot needed emergency surgery. The Lions released a statement on the release of Hagerty.
Joshua Hagerty is six foot three and weighs 200 pounds. The 28-year-old from Regina, Saskatchewan, re-signed with the B.C. Lions on December 16, 2025. In 2026, he made 11 tackles and nine tackles on special teams in 13 games.
The Toronto Argonauts drafted Hagerty in the sixth round (47th pick) of the 2021 CFL Draft. In 2021, he made eight tackles and six tackles on special teams in six games.
In 2022, Hagerty made seven tackles, nine tackles on special teams, and one forced fumble in three games. In 2023, Hagerty made eight tackles and one tackle on special teams in three games for the Argonauts.
The Edmonton Elks signed Hagerty on June 10, 2024. He played three games for Edmonton with one tackle on special teams. The Elks released him on July 7, 2024, and later re-signed him on July 23, 2024. He played an additional 12 games with nine tackles on special teams.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Hagerty on February 11, 2025. Hagerty has not played in 2025 due to a thigh injury. The Blue Bombers released him on July 1, 2025. The B.C. Lions signed Hagerty on July 16, 2025. In 2025, Hagerty made five tackles on special teams in 10 games.
Collegiately, Hagerty played five seasons at the University of Saskatchewan (2016-20) with 72 tackles (50 solos, 22 assists), four interceptions for nine yards, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 26 games for the Huskies. He is a member of the 2018 Hardy Cup championship team, where he recorded one interception as the Huskies beat the Calgary Dinos 43-18.
The Lions signed wide receiver Ben Patterson and linebacker Wesley Steiner to the practice squad.
Ben Patterson is six foot five and weighs 220 pounds. The 23-year-old from Fort Worth, Texas, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2026. They released him on August 2, 2026. The Cleveland Browns signed Patterson on August 18, 2026. In 2026, he made three catches for 76 yards in two preseason games. The Browns released him on August 28, 2026.
Collegiately, Patterson spent four seasons at Texas Permian Basin (2022-25) with 98 catches for 1,774 yards, 16 touchdowns, eight carries for 63 yards, and three tackles (3 solos) in 43 games for the Falcons. He was named a two-time Second Team All-Lone Star Conference and an All-Lone Star Conference Honorable Mention.
Wesley Steiner is six foot and weighs 235 pounds. The 24-year-old from Warner Robins, Georgia, signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2025. They released him on May 21, 2025. The Seattle Seahawks signed Steiner on August 14, 2025. In 2025, he played in one preseason game. The Seahawks released him on September 1, 2025.
Collegiately, Steiner spent four seasons at Auburn (2020-23) with 87 tackles (49 solos, 38 assists) and two tackles for loss in 47 games for the Tigers. Then, he transferred to Washington State University in 2024 with 11 tackles (8 solos, 3 assists), one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 13 games for the Cougars.
The Lions also released defensive back and returner Lawrence Woods III.
Lawrence Woods III is five foot nine and weighs 182 pounds. The 28-year-old from St. Louis, Missouri, signed with the B.C. Lions on August 25, 2026. In 2026, he had eight kickoff returns for 169 yards and seven punt returns for 43 yards in three games.
The New Orleans Saints signed Woods as an undrafted free agent on May 14, 2021. Then, the Tiger-Cats signed Woods on April 21, 2022. In 2022, Woods had 43 kickoff returns for 990 yards, one touchdown, three tackles, and nine tackles on special teams in 14 games. In 2023, Woods III had 14 kickoff returns for 277 yards, 20 tackles, and two tackles on special teams in seven games.
The B.C. Lions signed Woods III on December 7, 2023. They released him on May 2, 2024. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed Woods III on May 6, 2024. In 2024, Woods III had 30 kick returns for 607 yards, 38 punt returns for 470 yards, one touchdown, five tackles, and three tackles on special teams in 10 games. In 2025, he did not play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2025 due to a shoulder injury.
Collegiately, Woods played four seasons at Truman State University (2016-19) with 79 tackles (49 solos, 30 assists), three tackles for loss, two sacks, five interceptions for 67 yards, one touchdown, 27 pass breakups, one forced fumble, one blocked punt, 18 kick returns for 869 yards, five touchdowns, six punt returns for 52 yards, one catch for nine yards, and two carries for 33 yards in 25 games for the Bulldogs. He was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2019.
