Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Antoine Brooks Jr. (33) will try to help the team win its first Grey Cup since 2013. (Britton Gray/980 CJME)

‘I love football’: Riders’ Brooks Jr. dealt with ups and downs ahead of Grey Cup

By Britton Gray Nov 14, 2025 | 5:39 PM

Antoine Brooks Jr. has had a season of ups and downs, but now he is days away from playing in his first Grey Cup.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker was a training camp standout but was on the practice roster for much of the season.

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After a number of injuries to the Riders’ safeties, the team elected to move C.J. Reavis to the spot while Brooks joined the starters as a member of the linebacker group. In just nine games of action, he has 21 tackles, 2 sacks, two interceptions and a touchdown.

“The CFL is a long season,” Brooks Jr. said. “I never would assume I would be starting in the Grey Cup, but I figured I would be playing somewhere and just playing my part out there for the team.”

Brooks Jr. said it means a lot the coaches have trusted him this season.

“I love football to death and I think my coaches see I love football to death. When they put me down on the practice squad, I could see it in their eyes that they really didn’t want to,” he said.

“I could just feel the love from the beginning of camp. Coach (Corey) Mace gave me a big hug after I accepted the practice squad deal early in the season.

“Football has always been a marathon, not a sprint.”

Brooks Jr. does have championship experience, as he was a part of the Los Angeles Rams team that won the Super Bowl in 2022.

He will look to help the Riders’ defence stop the Montreal Alouettes’ offence and quarterback Davis Alexander. The 27-year-old brings a perfect 13-0 record as a starter in the league into the championship game.

Kickoff for the 112th Grey Cup is scheduled for Sunday at 5:30 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 3:30 p.m.

KeeSean Johnson, Joe Robustelli ruled out

The Riders will be without two of their top options in the passing attack against the Alouettes.

KeeSean Johnson (knee) and Joe Robustelli (head) have both been ruled out of the contest.

Johnson, who was an All-CFLer this season, had 1,159 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games this season. He was one of quarterback Trevor Harris’ top targets on second down throughout the year. He was listed as a non-participant in all of the team’s practices this week.

Robustelli, who had 544 yards and three touchdowns in 12 games this season, had to leave the CFL West Final early due to a head injury. He was limited in practice on Thursday but was unable to go this week.

Canadian receiver Ajou Ajou was taking plenty of reps with the first team heading into the game.

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