The Saskatchewan Roughriders had a disappointing 2021 season. It most certainly didn’t go as planned, but hopes are definitely high before the season opener set to transpire this coming Saturday. The Riders are set to face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats this coming Saturday June 11^th at 7PM EST.

As it would turn out though, the team has made some serious cuts to the team…final cuts essentially and all before the season properly gets under way this weekend.

The cuts have been quoted as being quite “shocking” in the media, and I would have to agree. The team seems to have done away with quite a few roster members from the aforementioned 2021 season.

This list of released Riders players comes from cjme.com:

Released…

• American defensive back Blace Brown
• American offensive lineman Tommy Champion
• American defensive lineman Nick Coe
• American linebacker Brian Cole II
• American running back Shaq Cooper
• American wide receiver Jeremiah Haydel
• American defensive back A.J. Hendy
• National defensive back Zach Herzog
• American wide receiver Johnathan Johnson
• American offensive lineman Noah Johnson
• American linebacker Alvin Jones Jr.
• American defensive back T.J. Morrison
• National linebacker Justice Momoka
• American running back Troymaine Pope
• American defensive back C.J. Reavis
• American defensive lineman Justin Thomas
• American wide receiver Xavier Ubosi
• National defensive back Matt Watson
• American defensive lineman Jester Weah
• American defensive lineman Samuel Wright
• National long snapper Zach Zynomirski

Here is an updated list of those added to the practice roster as per the same above-mentioned source:

Added To The Practice Roster…

• National offensive lineman Diego Alatorre Montoya
• American wide receiver Dieuly Aristilde Jr.
• National linebacker Tommy Bringi
• American defensive lineman Miles Brown
• American defensive back Amari Henderson
• American wide receiver Tevin Jones
• American defensive lineman David Kenney
• American offensive lineman Andrew Lauderdale
• Global kicker Henry Nell
• National defensive back Kosi Onyeka
• American offensive lineman Kooper Richardson
• Global punter James Smith

And speaking of those added to the roster for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, one proud new member of the team is of course Regina native, Nicholas Dheilly.

He cemented his new place on the team in what was the Roughriders’ last pre-season game just this past Friday night. It was in 2021 that he had signed as a free agent with the team, but after his performance against the BC Lions—a sack and 4 tackles—he cemented his official spot for himself on the team.

Dheilly had a few things to say on the matter:

“My mentality coming into last game was I was going to get a lot of reps because we had a few defensive ends down and I saw an opportunity – when the opportunity was there, I took it…I really wasn’t stressing too much because you come in here and just got to give it every day and not stress about those things…

It was nice to make sure you’re on the team but I wasn’t stressing too hard…What it taught me there was to be a professional…When I first came into the league, it was always go one hundred per cent. But I’m realizing, to make a team, you’ve got to show yourself as a professional, know your stuff, know the playbook and just act the right way…

There’s a lot of pressure on it as well because everybody knows your name and everybody wants you to succeed… (I’ve) always dreamed of this and even being here right now doesn’t even feel real.”

via Global News

Of course even Roughriders head coach, Craig Dickenson had a few words of encouragement:

“He knew he was on the bubble when he came in. He had an outstanding camp and really did everything we asked of him and more. He’s a guy that made a big impression on the coaching staff throughout camp and especially that last game.”

via Global News (link above)

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