Riders bring back safety Nelson Lokombo for 2026

Nelson Lokombo will be back for a sixth season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The CFL club announced that the Canadian safety has signed an extension to keep him with the team.

The Abbotsford, B.C. product played in 13 games for the team in 2025, also suiting up for the CFL West Final and the Grey Cup. During the season, he registered 21 defensive tackles, five pass knockdowns and an interception.

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The 26-year-old was first selected by the Riders in the first round (second overall) of the 2021 CFL Draft. Since being selected by the team, Lokombo has appeared in 52 regular-season games where he has recorded 83 defensive tackles, one interception and two forced fumbles.

As a member of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, he won the President’s Trophy winner in 2019 as the country’s most outstanding defensive player. That season, he made 39 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, five interceptions – two of which he returned for touchdowns. He was also named Canada West’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player, a Canada West All-Star and a U SPORTS First-Team All-Canadian.

Lokombo was set to become a free agent on Feb. 10.