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There are a number of topics on the minds of the leadership of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Not only is the team continuing to sign pending free agents ahead of CFL Free Agency in February, head coach Corey Mace and general manager Jeremy O’Day are in Calgary for the CFL winter meetings.
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A number of topics are expected to be discussed, and the rules committee will look at things like the replay centre, adjustments to the Grey Cup playoffs and an American player draft.
CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston will speak to the media on Wednesday.
Rider coaching changes
Last week, the Riders announced their coaching staff for 2026. One of the changes being made is Mace will no longer be the team’s defensive co-ordinator, with Josh Bell adding that responsibility to his role as defensive backs coach.
“Josh has done an incredible job throughout his entire coaching career. I’ve always thought about him as one of the top coaches at his position group,” Mace said.
“Certainly, with how we operate and we have operated for quite a few years together, it’s a collaborative effort and I don’t think that’s going to change at all.
“A lot of people would be interested in having Josh Bell run their defence, and we’re fortunate as ever to have him stay in the building and do that with us. I know it was important for him as well.”
Some of the other changes to the staff included adding Micah Johnson as defensive line coach after he elected to retire from playing. The Riders also added Jeff Stusek, who was with the University of Regina Rams, as a special teams assistant.
“Micah Johnson and Stusek are full-time in Regina. Incredibly important. Half of our staff live full-time in Regina. The amount of work we can get done together is extremely important,” Mace said.
“What Green and White means to them, you can’t get that out of a lot of people.”
Winter meetings
Ahead of the rules committee meetings, Mace admitted he was interested in hearing about all the possible changes coming to the CFL.
“Sometimes there are things that come up that you don’t think you have too much of an opinion on and then you realize you do,” Mace said.
“(What’s cool about this environment) is getting a piece of everyone’s thought process as it pertains to every single topic.”
O’Day said he also wants to hear about all the topics being brought forward.
“There are some interesting ones in there. They talked about an American draft and I have a ton of questions about how that would work and who would be in the draft and all those types of things,” he said.
“We’ve had discussions in the past about the negotiation lists and I think they made the negotiation list public, and now maybe take it a step further to create something there.”
Roster moves
O’Day has had to make a number of decisions when it comes to how the Riders will look in 2026 as they try to defend their Grey Cup title.
One player who was under a lot of scrutiny in 2025 was kicker Brett Lauther, who only hit on 72 per cent of his field goal kicks. He is under contract for 2026. O’Day said he wouldn’t discuss right now if he would be committed to Lauther being the kicker next season.
“I think there are ongoing discussions with our whole roster about what it looks like and how everyone fits in. Brett didn’t have the year we had hoped and he had hoped but what we have to do is weigh in the entire career of how he has played and where do we think it goes from here,” O’Day said.
“Those discussions probably haven’t happened yet but we will continue to look at our roster as we do all the time and make sure we have the best team possible.
“Brett’s our kicker right now. We’re always trying to look at ways to improve. Whether that remains the same, that remains to be seen.”
When it comes to linebacker A.J. Allen, O’Day said he has reached out to his agent, and talks are ongoing.
Defensive end Malik Carney is still without a deal.
O’Day said those talks are at a stalemate.
“Love to have him back. As you can understand, players only play for a short period of time. They are going to try to capitalize as much as they can,” O’Day said.
“From our standpoint, we want guys who want to be on our team, and it can’t always just be about the money. It has to be about the team aspect as well. We’re trying to do something special here that hasn’t been done and ultimately, we’d love to have him back but it has to be a two-way street where it works out for him and also for the club.”
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