The Edmonton Eskimos were unaware of the criminal investigation involving Euclid Patrick Cummings over the season the defensive tackle played with them in 2017.

The 26-year-old native of Atlanta was playing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers when an incident took place in Vancouver on Oct. 16, 2016, and had already been signed by then-Eskimos general manager Ed Hervey when Cummings was charged on April 21, 2017, with four criminal offences involving two alleged victims.

“We were unaware of the charges and will not comment further as the matter is before the courts,” offered a statement provided by the Eskimos, who happened to be between general managers at the time the charges were laid.

Ed Hervey, who initially signed Cummings on Feb. 27, 2017, was fired by the club on April 7, 2017, while his replacement, Brock Sunderland, was hired on April 24, 2017.

Hervey signed the six-foot-four, 300-pound Georgia Tech product for the second time in as many years, this time as GM of the B.C. Lions, to a reported $160,000 contract on Feb. 13, only to see it voided by the Canadian Football League on Wednesday once the charges – including sexual assault, assault and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm to one person, and the sexual assault of another – came to light.

“Upon learning of the criminal charges facing Euclid Cummings, CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie has voided his contract with the B.C. Lions,” the league said in a press release. “As these charges are before the courts, the CFL will offer no further comment.”

Cummings, who signed with the Lions on the same day his contract with the Eskimos expired, tied for the team lead with eight sacks, finished second in the CFL with three forced fumbles and earned 21 tackles in 2017.

“We support the commissioner’s decision to void the contract of Euclid Cummings in light of criminal charges he is currently facing,” read a statement from the Lions attributing Hervey. “We were given no indication by the player or his representation that these charges existed and I assure our fans, partners and supporters of the CFL across Canada, that we would not have offered him a contract had we known about this situation.

“Given that matter is before the criminal courts and under a publication ban, we will not be offering further comment.”

Email: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge