It was nine long weeks on the sidelines for Rob Bagg, but the veteran receiver is now back in a familiar spot.

Bagg signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Wednesday after being released by the team at end of training camp just a few months ago.

"The last nine weeks have been pretty crazy, but at the end of the day, I had a really good conversation with Coach Jones at the end of last week and again on Monday, so it's moved pretty quickly," said Bagg. "I'm just excited about the rest of the season here, getting back with these guys and playing football again in the city that I love."

The nine-year CFL vet was a surprising release by the Riders, along with fellow receivers Bakari Grant and Chad Owens, when the preseason wrapped up in June.

Riders head coach Chris Jones said on Wednesday that the move had to do with an ankle injury for Bagg and the limitations around the league's injured lists.

"The CFL rule was clearly implicated to us early in the year, they said that the six-game (injured list) is not to put with three and four-week injuries, it was for six-game type of injuries and when the trainer said it wasn't necessarily a six-week deal, I couldn't risk a $25,000 fine, so ultimately that's what it came down to," said Jones.

Bagg didn't go into what surrounded his release but said that his ankle is fully healed and he's ready to get back down to work.

"My ankle feels great, I put some hard work in to get it better and now I'm back out here, so I appreciate Coach Jones giving me that opportunity and I'm looking forward to making the most of it," said Bagg.

There's no timeline for Bagg to slot into the Riders' lineup, but he said he was feeling good after his first practice back.

"Physically I feel like I'm pretty darn good shape, but I was pretty much trying to put a game load type day every day back home doing two-a-days with my trainer, so I feel pretty good where I'm at physically," said Bagg.

Despite the release of Duron Carter on the weekend, the Riders' receiving core remains loaded with talent, including Canadian Devon Bailey.

While Bagg might not see action on the field right away, his return will provide a boost in leadership to the Riders, which will be very valuable.

"Rob Bagg has been a good player and he brings some leadership qualities and depth at the Canadian receiver position," said Jones.

"Anytime that we bring a veteran back, we bring him back for a reason and Rob brings leadership in the room and now that he's healthy, it's certainly something that he brings in case one of the other guys goes down."

Bagg added, "I'm just another piece of the puzzle and if I can go out there, encourage the other guys, work as hard as I possibly can and hopefully that encourages them to do the same then we're all better off and closer to our goal of being a quality football team."

The Riders have a few more days of practice before they host the 7-0 Calgary Stampeders on Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.