CFL NOTEBOOK: KAVIS BACK IN THE GAME

EDMONTON – The Edmonton Wildcats have hired former CFL coach/GM Kavis Reed as their offensive co-ordinator.

The Wildcats, a junior team playing in the Prairie Football Conference, made the announcement Thursday on Twitter.

Reed, 46, was fired as Montreal Alouettes general manager last July after being appointed to the post Dec. 14, 2016. The CFL club went 10-30 during Reed’s front-office tenure.

The native of Georgetown, S.C., has an extensive CFL coaching resume, most notably having served as head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos (2011-13) and Montreal (2017), compiling an overall 22-39 record. Reed was also a former defensive back with Edmonton (1995-99) and was a league all-star in 1997.

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VANCOUVER – The B.C. Lions re-signed veteran Canadian offensive lineman Hunter Steward for two more seasons and also added quarterbacks Vincent Testaverde Jr. and William Arndt on Thursday.

Steward was eligible to become a free agent on Feb. 11.

Taken in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2013 CFL draft, the six-foot-six, 315-pound Steward has appeared in 75 games over six seasons with the Lions. The versatile Calgary native can play multiple positions on the offensive line.

“I’m very excited and proud to be staying with the only professional organization I’ve ever known,” Steward said in a statement.

Steward was nominated for the 2016 Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award, which is given annually to the player who best demonstrates the attributes of Canadian soldiers.

“Hunter will continue to be important for us in both the run and pass blocking game,” Lions general manager Ed Hervey said. “With our mission to be dominant on the line of scrimmage, he also possesses the size and physicality that we need up front.”

The 23-year-old Testaverde attended 2019 training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and appeared in one pre-season contest against Dallas, completing four passes for 41 yards. He then joined the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers and was with them for mini-camp in December.

His father Vinny was selected first overall in the 1987 NFL draft by Tampa Bay and would go on to play 21 seasons in the league.

Arndt originally signed with Ottawa in September 2017 and started the final four games of 2019 for the Redblacks. He ended the season with 103 completions for 940 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions in seven total appearances.

(Canadian Press)