Marcus Sayles

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1994)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Marcus Sayles

| image = 2024, 08, Marcus Sayles.jpg

| caption = Sayles with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2024

| current_team = Saskatchewan Roughriders

| number = 8

| position = Defensive back

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|10|1}}

| birth_place = Alpharetta, Georgia, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 9

| weight_lbs = 176

| high_school = Chattahoochee {{nowrap|(Johns Creek, Georgia)}}

| college = West Georgia

| undraftedyear = 2017

| pastteams =

Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2017}})*
Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|2017|2018}})*
Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|2018}}–{{CFL Year|2019}})
Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2021}}–{{CFL Year|2023}})
Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|2024}}–present)

| status = Active

| cflstatus = American

| highlights =

Grey Cup champion (2019)
2× CFL All-Star ({{CFL Year|2022}}, {{CFL Year|2024}})
3× CFL West All-Star ({{CFL Year|2019}}, {{CFL Year|2022}}, {{CFL Year|2024}})

| cfl = marcus-sayles/163412/

}}

Marcus Sayles (born October 1, 1994) is an American professional football defensive back for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

College career

Sayles played college football for the West Georgia Wolves from 2013 to 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/players/marcus-sayles/163412/ |title=Marcus Sayles |publisher=BC Lions |access-date=October 10, 2022}} He started in 46 games where he had 123 tackles, 12 interceptions, and 24 pass breakups. He also set the program record for most career blocked kicks with 13.

Professional career

File:2022, 14, Marcus Sayles.jpg

=Buffalo Bills=

Sayles signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2017.{{cite web|title=Bills agreed to terms with 13 undrafted free agents|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-agreed-to-terms-with-13-undrafted-free-agents/95ae25ec-7223-4282-91db-25219159d374|author=Sambrotto, Anthony|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=May 5, 2017|access-date=July 23, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811003111/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-agreed-to-terms-with-13-undrafted-free-agents/95ae25ec-7223-4282-91db-25219159d374|archive-date=August 11, 2017}} He was waived on September 2, 2017, and was signed to the Bills' practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Bills move 30 off the roster to reach 53|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-move-30-off-the-roster-to-reach-53/ad4c9c3a-e0f8-425a-b9fb-5be1060cbf88|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410122657/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-move-30-off-the-roster-to-reach-53/ad4c9c3a-e0f8-425a-b9fb-5be1060cbf88|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 10, 2018|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=September 2, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Bills sign seven to practice squad|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-sign-seven-to-practice-squad/a4cc68b9-95d7-41eb-b4a3-c4107a8774c6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414064135/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-sign-seven-to-practice-squad/a4cc68b9-95d7-41eb-b4a3-c4107a8774c6|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 14, 2018|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=September 3, 2017}} He was released on September 5, 2017.{{cite web|title=Bills make three practice squad changes|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-make-three-practice-squad-changes/0492c426-d636-42c2-955d-272e2cf96191|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=September 5, 2017|access-date=September 6, 2017|archive-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212070218/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-make-three-practice-squad-changes/0492c426-d636-42c2-955d-272e2cf96191|url-status=dead}}

=Los Angeles Rams=

On November 22, 2017, Sayles was signed to the Los Angeles Rams' practice squad.{{cite web|url=http://nfltraderumors.co/rams-sign-cb-marcus-sayles-practice-squad/|title=Rams Sign CB Marcus Sayles To Practice Squad|last=Comeaux|first=Jonathan|date=November 22, 2017|website=NFL Trade Rumors}} He was released on December 5, 2017, but was re-signed on December 13.{{cite web|title=Rams Promote Isaiah Johnson, Sign Marcus Sayles to Practice Squad|url=http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Promote-Isaiah-Johnson-Sign-Marcus-Sayles-to-Practice-Squad/8372fcbe-37c7-4531-abf0-fe6648b1cfb1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214182456/http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Promote-Isaiah-Johnson-Sign-Marcus-Sayles-to-Practice-Squad/8372fcbe-37c7-4531-abf0-fe6648b1cfb1|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 14, 2017|author=Simmons, Myles|website=TheRams.com|date=December 13, 2017}} He signed a reserve/future contract with the Rams on January 8, 2018.{{cite web|title=Rams Sign 10 to Futures Contracts|url=http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Sign-10-to-Futures-Contracts/7056c5c4-c016-465b-92aa-9030444e1452|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317151955/http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Sign-10-to-Futures-Contracts/7056c5c4-c016-465b-92aa-9030444e1452|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 17, 2018|author=Simmons, Myles|website=TheRams.com|date=January 8, 2018}}

On April 12, 2018, Sayles was waived by the Rams.{{cite web|url=http://nfltraderumors.co/rams-waive-db-marcus-sayles/|title=Rams Waive DB Marcus Sayles|last=Bouda|first=Nate|date=April 12, 2018|website=NFL Trade Rumors}}

=Winnipeg Blue Bombers=

After being let go by the Rams, Sayles signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the 2018 season. Sayles played a critical role at halfback for the Bombers defense and linked up with Winston Rose as his boundary corner in 2019, to help the Bombers win the 107th Grey Cup 33–12.{{cite news|title=Newcomers helped solidify Bombers' secondary just in time for playoffs |author=Ted Wyman |url=https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/newcomers-helped-solidify-bombers-secondary-just-in-time-for-playoffs |website=Winnipeg Sun |date=November 15, 2019}}{{cite news |title=Rose and Sayles blossoming for Blue Bombers |author=Ken Wiebe |url=https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/0801-wiebe-bombers-column |website=Winnipeg Sun |date=August 1, 2019 |access-date=2019-12-12}} Sayles was named a CFL West All-Star for his play during the 2019 season.{{cite news |title=Bombers Jefferson, Bryant and Rose named to CFL all-star team |author=Ted Wyman |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/bombers-jefferson-bryant-and-rose-named-to-cfl-all-star-team/wcm/ecf40c5c-03f6-4972-8d90-0a90b2a3ed66 |website=Ottawa Citizen |date=November 27, 2019}}

=Minnesota Vikings=

On January 3, 2020, Sayles signed a reserve/future contract with the Minnesota Vikings.{{cite web|title=Ex-CFL cornerback Marcus Sayles signs futures deal with Vikings|url=https://www.twincities.com/2020/01/03/ex-cfl-player-marcus-sayles-signs-futures-deal-with-vikings/|work=Twin Cities|publisher=Pioneer Press|date=January 3, 2020}} He was waived on August 18, 2020.{{cite news |title=Vikings Sign LB Hardy Nickerson |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/hardy-nickerson-signed-roster-moves |website=Vikings.com |date=August 18, 2020 |access-date=August 18, 2020}} He was re-signed to their practice squad on October 27, 2020.{{cite web|title=Vikings Sign CB Marcus Sayles to Practice Squad; Announce Roster Moves|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/marcus-sayles-practice-squad-announce-roster-moves|website=Vikings.com|date=October 27, 2020}} He was released on December 1, 2020.{{cite news |title=Vikings Waive LS Austin Cutting and LB Hardy Nickerson; Announce Roster Moves |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/austin-cutting-hardy-nickerson-roster-moves |website=Vikings.com |date=December 1, 2020 |access-date=January 9, 2021}}

=BC Lions=

On January 9, 2021, it was announced that Sayles had signed with the BC Lions to a three-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/2021/01/09/lions-land-2019-west-star-marcus-sayles/|title=Lions Land 2019 West All-Star Marcus Sayles|publisher=BC Lions|date=January 9, 2021}} In his first year with the team, he had played in 13 games where he had 52 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and one forced fumble.

On February 3, 2024, the Lions announced that Sayles had signed a two-year contract extension.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-03 |title=Sayles, Lions agree to two-year extension |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2024/02/03/sayles-lions-agree-to-two-year-extension/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}}

On June 2, 2024, Sayles was released by Lions.{{Cite web |title=BC Lions Transactions |url=https://www.bclions.com/transactions/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=BC Lions |language=en}}

= Saskatchewan Roughriders =

On June 4, 2024, Sayles was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.{{Cite web |title=Riders sign CFL All-Star DB Marcus Sayles |url=https://www.riderville.com/2024/06/04/riders-sign-cfl-all-star-db-marcus-sayles/ |publisher=Saskatchewan Roughriders |date=June 4, 2024}}