Roughriders cut 17, add 11 to practice roster ahead of 2025 season opener

After a long training camp and a pair of preseason games against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have determined how their 2025 roster will look come Week 1.

The Riders announced 17 final cuts after training camp, including both Justin and Jordan Herdman-Reed. The Herdman-Reed twins have been in the league since 2017, both joining the Riders in 2021. Justin has been with the team that entire stretch while Jordan joined Calgary in 2023, but was then back with the Riders in 2024.

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Both Canadian linebackers have been key special-teams players since they joined the league.

Also released by the Riders was offensive lineman Nick Jones. Jones played in only five games for Saskatchewan last season due to injuries along the offensive line.

After a strong preseason performance, Jack Coan will remain on the Riders’ active roster to begin the season. That means Saskatchewan will carry four quarterbacks into the season — Trevor Harris, Jake Maier, Tommy Stevens and Coan.

Coan led the only touchdown drive of the preseason for the Riders, with the team finally getting into the end zone with just 27 seconds left in a 27-20 loss to the Bombers on Friday.

Questions still surround the punter position for the Riders heading into the season. Joe Couch was added to the practice roster, while Bailey Flint was added to the suspended list.

Starting on the practice roster will be dynamic returner Drae McCray, running back Mario Anderson, training camp standouts linebacker Antoine Brooks Jr. and receiver Joe Robustelli as well as offensive lineman Noah Zerr, who was released in the first round of training camp cuts but was brought back due to injuries to centre Sean McEwen and guard Philippe Gagnon.

The Riders added five of their picks from the 2025 CFL draft to the retired list — offensive lineman Erik Andersen (second round), linebacker Seth Hundeby (fourth), defensive end Liam Hoskins (fifth), defensive back Gideon Agyei (sixth), and wide receiver Daniel Wiebe (eighth). All of those players are eligible to return to school for a fifth season of eligibility.

First-round pick — defensive end Ali Saad — made the team’s active roster.

Also making the active roster is defensive end Aaron Patrick, returner Mario Alford, pass catcher Tommy Nield and offensive lineman Daniel Johnson.

Saskatchewan will open the regular season on Thursday against the Ottawa Redblacks. Kickoff for the game at Mosaic Stadium is set for 7 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 5 p.m.

Released

• American defensive lineman Eric Black
• American offensive lineman Yoesph Carter
• American defensive lineman Alex Gubner
• National linebacker Jordan Herdman-Reed
• National linebacker Justin Herdman-Reed
• American linebacker Braxton Hill
• National kicker Dawson Hodge
• American receiver Abdul Janneh Jr.
• American defensive back Robert Javier
• American offensive lineman Nick Jones
• American offensive lineman Brandon Kemp
• American defensive back Tyrique McGhee
• National receiver Brayden Misseri
• American running back Trent Pennix
• American offensive lineman Jahmir Ross-Johnson
• American defensive back Phalen Sanford
• American offensive lineman Jack Sherwin

Added to practice roster

• American running back Mario Anderson
• American defensive back Antoine Brooks Jr.
• American defensive lineman Kendy Charles
• American offensive lineman Payton Collins
• Global punter Joe Couch
• American defensive back Eddie Heckard
• National defensive lineman Benoit Marion
• American receiver Drae McCray
• National receiver D’Sean Mimbs
• American receiver Joe Robustelli
• National offensive lineman Noah Zerr

Added to retired list

• National defensive back Gideon Agyei
• National offensive lineman Erik Andersen
• National defensive lineman Liam Hoskins
• National linebacker Seth Hundeby
• National receiver Daniel Wiebe

Suspended

• Global punter Bailey Flint

Read more:

• Find the latest Saskatchewan Roughriders news here
• The Blitz podcast with Jamie Nye and Britton Gray