REGINA - The Saskatchewan Roughriders bolstered their defence Wednesday, reportedly signing Canadian defensive end Justin Capicciotti along with linebacker Greg Jones and defensive back Ed Gainey.

The Riders also added running back/receiver Kendial Lawrence in free agency.

The Capicciotti signing was originally reported by Scott Mitchell of the Calgary Sun. Capicciotti was one of the biggest targets in the open market after recording 12 sacks with the Ottawa Redblacks last year. Capicciotti spent the past two years with the Redblacks after starting his career with the Edmonton Eskimos. The Simon Fraser product had 23 sacks in his two season's in the nation's capital.

The six-foot, 242-pound Jones spent the last two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts. Last year, the 27-year-old started all 18 regular-season games and registered a team-high 98 tackles.

Jones was also a member of the New York Giants when they captured the 2011 Super Bowl.

The five-foot-11, 195-pound Gainey spent the last two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after beginning his CFL career in Montreal.

Gainey, 25, has played in 43 career games, having registered 69 tackles, 25 special-teams tackles, two interceptions and three fumble returns, including one that was returned for a touchdown.

The Roughriders also announced the signing of Canadian receiver Shamawd Chambers. The six-foot-three, 219-pound native of Markham, Ont., spent the last four seasons with the Edmonton Eskimos and was named the top Canadian in the club's Grey Cup win last November against Ottawa.

Chambers has played in 50 career regular-season games, having recorded 112 receptions for 1,234 yards and seven TDs.

Lawrence, another former Eskimo, followed suit and signed with the Riders as a free agent. The five-foot-nine, 195-pound Lawrence spent the last two seasons in Edmonton after beginning his CFL career in Hamilton.

Saskatchewan also released linebacker Jake Doughty and punter Ray Early, both Americans. Doughty had 30 tackles and three special-teams tackles in seven games last season, his first with the Riders, while Early boasted a 45-yard average in dressing for all of the club's 18 regular-season games.