Former Bengals seventh-round draft pick from 10 years ago runs in game-winning kickoff return in latest CFL thriller

Alford, who's been with the Roughriders since the 2022 season, has been tasked with return duties so far this season through three games. His previous 11 kickoff returns amounted to 281 yards. The 99-yarder he put up Friday was the second-longest of his CFL career, and his fourth career kickoff return for a touchdown.

Returning kicks was Alford's main task as a rookie for Cincinnati a decade ago. He handled four kickoffs and five punts during the 2015 preseason. He stuck around during the regular season and recorded his lone career reception, a 15-yarder against the Cleveland Browns in Week 13.

The Bengals released Alford prior to the 2016 regular season. The New York Jets and Cleveland Browns each added him to their respective practice squads later that season and the Browns eventually signed him to their roster. He was back on the market in 2017 when the Chicago Bears picked him to their practice squad, and later released him. He's since been out of the NFL entirely. 

Alford's first CFL team was actually the Argonauts. He was in June of 2018 and played just one season for the club. He was released in 2019 and signed on with the Montreal Alouettes, which would be his team through the middle of the 2022 season. He was traded to Saskatchewan in July of 2022 and has been there ever since.  

Friday night was a little bit of revenge for Alford with a game-winner against his first CFL team, but also a reminder that forgotten NFL draft picks can still pop up in the most unexpected ways.