Woods relishing first season with Riders ahead of B.C. return

A phone call with Corey Mace made it clear where Josh Woods wanted to play football in 2026.

The linebacker spent five seasons with the B.C. Lions but elected to join the Saskatchewan Roughriders this off-season.

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“Off that first phone call with Mace, I knew this was somewhere I wanted to be,” Woods said. “It was different from every other team as far as the confidence and believing what he sees in me and talking about how I would add and how I would fit into the scheme.”

“It wasn’t so much that you have to change the way you play to do this for us. It was, ‘I can’t wait for you to do this. We’re going to help you here. You’re going to build and make plays.’ It’s the confidence that he gave me that made me want to be here.”

Mace said that when it came to Woods, the Riders’ coach focused on how he gave them trouble as a member of the Lions.

“How we thought that could fit into our scheme and his being able to make plays and he has done that,” Mace said. “You see who they are as a player, but ultimately you want to get to know them as a person.”

“Instantly, in the first 10 seconds (of the call), you could gauge the type of guy he was. I knew it was going to be a great fit. Obviously, he was familiar with his linebacker coach and working with (Travis Brown) back in their previous spot. We’re happy as ever to have him.”

Woods has been a key contributor on the Riders’ defence as his 42 defensive tackles have him on pace to surpass his previous career high (62). He also leads the Riders with two interceptions.

He credits the belief from the coaches and players for the season he is having.

“Just the confidence they exude in me; I don’t have to do too much. I can just be myself,” Woods said.

The Riders will head to Vancouver and face the Lions at B.C. Place on Sunday. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 3 p.m.

Saskatchewan is looking to bounce back following a 26-19 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Saskatchewan dropped to 6-3 and into second place in the CFL’s West Division. Meanwhile, the Lions are currently on a three-game winning streak, improving to 4-5 and put themselves back in the conversation to host a playoff game.

Sunday’s showdown will be the first time Woods will play a game as a visitor to the stadium.

“It’s going to be weird. I don’t know what it’s like to be on that side. It’s going to be fun being back in B.C. Place, though,” Woods said.