SURREY, B.C. — Contemplating a CFL return, Terrell Sinkfield made sure he did his homework.

The speedy receiver was cut by the Minnesota Vikings at the tail end of training camp last month and could have signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the team he starred for north of the border last season.

But while talking to players around the league and mulling over a couple of offers, Sinkfield was intrigued by what he was hearing about the B.C. Lions. He eventually decided the club was the right fit and agreed to a contract for the remainder of the 2016 season that was finalized late last week and announced Monday.

"I did a lot of research," Sinkfield said after his first practice. "I was watching videos of what was going on here and I saw that they kind of had the Hamilton atmosphere that we had when we were going on winning streaks and making it to the Grey Cup and doing all the good things.

"I've been on teams that didn't have that atmosphere, so that was big for me."

The 25-year-old from Minnetonka, Minn., split time between the Toronto Argonauts and Tiger-Cats in 2014 before catching 69 passes for 1,030 yards and six touchdowns for Hamilton in 2015.

Sinkfield took some first-team reps Monday and could find his way into the lineup soon for the Lions (8-3), who sit second in the West Division behind the Calgary Stampeders (10-1-1).

"He's a specific kind of receiver who I think adds to our offence," said Lions head coach and general manager Wally Buono. "I'm not sure we have that kind of player. He's very good with the ball in his hands, he's got tremendous speed."

That speed is what immediately comes to mind when Sinkfield's name is mentioned.

The University of Northern Iowa product ran a blazing 4.19 seconds in the 40-yard dash at his pro day back in 2013, a time that was clocked manually and not with the electronic sensors used at the NFL combine.

The time would have set the record at the combine and questions have been raised about its accuracy ever since — Sinkfield also ran 4.27 and 4.41 that day — but he's happy to just sit back and enjoy the conversation.

"It's been highly debated," Sinkfield said with a smile. "I just let everyone else debate it ... 4.19, I'll definitely take that."

Accurate or not, he said the eye-popping number opened some doors for a player who failed to make a name for himself in college.

"It was a blessing," said Sinkfield. "It went big, national news. It went everywhere. It really helped out my career. As you can see ... I ran it like four years ago and you're still asking me about it."

Sinkfield, who also had NFL stops with Buffalo, Green Bay and the New York Giants, joins a balanced receiving corps with the Lions that has benefited from sophomore quarterback Jonathon Jennings' ability to spread the ball around.

"It puts a smile on my face," Jennings said when asked about Sinkfield's quickness. "It stretches defences."

Those jets were put on display Monday when a ball looked to be well overthrown before Sinkfield kicked into another gear to settle underneath and make a comfortable catch.

"It's all about trying to help and improve your football club," said Buono. "That's something we've been looking for."

The Lions visit the Edmonton Eskimos (5-7) on Friday, and while Sinkfield isn't sure when he will make his debut, it's clear he expects to make an impact soon.

"A weapon like myself, you wouldn't really want to have it on the bench," he said. "When you've got a weapon, you want to us it."

Notes: B.C. also announced that international defensive back Jeremy Harris has been added to the practice roster. ... In corresponding moves, the club released veteran receiver Courtney Taylor and transferred defensive lineman Andrew Hudson to the practice roster.

___

Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter