{"id":184191,"date":"2025-10-02T04:26:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T04:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/184191\/"},"modified":"2025-10-02T04:26:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T04:26:19","slug":"roughriders-ouellette-and-johnson-already-enjoying-career-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/184191\/","title":{"rendered":"Roughriders\u2019 Ouellette and Johnson already enjoying career years"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Kayle Neis\/Regina Leader-Post
\nSaskatchewan Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette (45) runs the ball during regular season CFL action inside Mosaic Stadium on Saturday, September 13, 2025 in Regina. <\/p>\n

Taylor Shire<\/p>\n

Regina Leader-Post<\/p>\n

A.J. Ouellette said he feels like he\u2019s playing the best football of his career.<\/p>\n

After a 115-yard performance in a 27-25 loss to the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, the running back for the Saskatchewan Roughriders has set a career-high with 1,057 yards this season after previously reaching the 1,000-yard milestone in 2023 with the Toronto Argonauts.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I\u2019m moving well, I\u2019m seeing the game well, and I\u2019m a little bit older, so I\u2019m communicating what I want (and) what I\u2019m seeing out there,\u201d said Ouellette. \u201cEverything\u2019s feeling good right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

After signing with the Riders in free agency in 2024, the 30-year-old Ohio native, who is in his sixth CFL season, was limited to 558 yards in eight games last year as he dealt with injuries.<\/p>\n

This off-season, he switched up his training regime and came into camp lighter and healthier, which has resulted in a resurgent season.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuper proud of him,\u201d said Roughriders head coach Corey Mace. \u201cWe kind of challenged him this off-season to just switch up how he takes care of his body. And certainly, he took heed to<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you just turn on the film and watch the way I ran last year versus this year, and you could see (the difference),\u201d added Ouellette, who is averaging 5.2 yards per carry, a yard better than what he averaged last season. \u201cJust confidence in my ability to hit the edge or hit the A-gap, power through without any pain and try to beat it with speed on the outside without pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ouellette \u2014 who is the first Riders running back to reach 1,000 yards in a single season since William Powell did it in 2019 \u2014 also gives credit to receivers blocking for him and of course, the offensive line.<\/p>\n

\u201cO-line is everything,\u201d said Ouellette. \u201cYou take the best running back and put him behind the worst line, he\u2019s not getting anything. You can take an average running back and put him behind these guys and he\u2019s going to get 1,000 yards.\u201d<\/p>\n

With four games left in the season, Ouellette \u2014 who enters the week just four yards back of B.C.\u2019s James Butler for the league lead \u2014 will look to add to his totals on Friday night (5 p.m., TSN) with the Roughriders (10-4) look to snap a two-game losing skid on the road against the Ottawa Redblacks (4-10).<\/p>\n

The same can be said for second-year receiver KeeSean Johnson, who reached the 1,000-yard milestone for the first time in his career with an eight-catch, 119-yard performance against the Elks.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt obviously feels good having some success on your own, but obviously our main goal, and my main goal, is to win a game as a team, and we didn\u2019t do that this week,\u201d said Johnson, who is up to 1,088 yards, which ranks third in the CFL heading into Week 18.<\/p>\n

After playing 18 games over two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, where he had 36 catches for 360 yards from 2019-20, Johnson bounced around the NFL for a few years before joining the Roughriders in 2024.<\/p>\n

And in his rookie season, the 28-year-old California native recorded 746 yards before becoming an even more established receiver this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an accomplishment that we know all receivers want to hit, and it\u2019s something I was able to do,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cBut my main goal when I came here was to win games and get to the last game of game season.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Ouellette and Johnson having already eclipsed the mark with four games to go, receiver Dohnte Meyers could also soon be over the 1,000-yard mark as he enters the week 102 yards shy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always tell those guys throughout the year, like don\u2019t worry about your numbers, let me worry about them,\u201d said Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris. \u201cAnd I kind of know my receivers\u2019 numbers better than they do.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cNothing gives me, as a quarterback, more happiness than to see A.J. get a lot of rushing yards and see KeeSean hit that milestone. And you know, hopefully we can get Dohnte there pretty quick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Onyeka cut<\/p>\n

After starting the last three games at safety in place of the injured Nelson Lokombo (ankle) and Jaxon Ford (knee), fourth-year Roughriders defensive back Kosi Onyeka was released by the team on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a code of conduct here, and high standards on and off the field, and unfortunately, Kosi didn\u2019t meet that,\u201d said Mace.<\/p>\n

Injury report<\/p>\n

With Onyeka out of the lineup, the Roughriders deployed linebacker C.J. Reavis at safety on Tuesday as Antoine Brooks Jr. got reps in Reavis\u2019 linebacker spot.<\/p>\n

On special teams, kicker Brett Lauther (back) didn\u2019t practise as Campbell Fair handled kicking duties while returner Mario Alford (hip) was a full participant after sitting out last week\u2019s game, which saw Shawn Bane Jr. make his season debut as the returner.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile on offence, receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker, who has been out since suffering a foot injury in Week 1, was working with the starters in place of Ajou Ajou.<\/p>\n

With offensive lineman Daniel Johnson (foot) not practising, Philippe Gagnon got the majority of the reps at left guard on Tuesday and could make his first start of the season on Friday after suffering an injury in training camp.<\/p>\n

Cornerback Tevaughn Campbell (head) continues to sit out as Benny Sapp III looks to make a third straight start while fellow cornerback Marcus Sayles (knee) was given the day off as Kerfalla Exume got reps with the starters. Mace said he expects Sayles to be fine.<\/p>\n

Additionally, running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon (leg) and linebacker Melique Straker (leg) were all full participants while defensive end Shane Ray (shoulder) and quarterback Tommy Stevens (knee) were spectators.<\/p>\n

Roughriders add four<\/p>\n

The Roughriders also added four American players to the expanded practice roster on Tuesday as running back Marcus Major Jr., linebacker Tuasivi Nomura, quarterback Brayden Schager and linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala joined the club.<\/p>\n

After suiting up for the University of Minnesota and University of Oklahoma, Major had a short stint with the NFL\u2019s Baltimore Ravens before signing in Saskatchewan while Nomura is coming off a sting with the Carolina Panthers after playing for Fresno State University and USC.<\/p>\n

Schager comes to the Roughriders after four seasons at the University of Hawaii, where he threw for 9,096 yards and 62 touchdowns in 42 games (37 starts), while Tuputala was recently with the Seattle Seahawks after a college career at the University of Washington.<\/p>\n

The Roughriders also announced the release of American practice roster linebacker Chris Russell Jr.<\/p>\n

tshire@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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