Derick Roberson eager to make quick impact with Riders

After a few years of calls from the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Derick Roberson has finally ventured north and joined the CFL.

“I’ve been with the UFL for a couple of years, and the agent reached out to me with the opportunity to make a few bucks,” the San Antonio, Texas product said after Wednesday’s practice.

It’s also a chance for him to finish some business this year. His UFL team, the DC Defenders, lost 27-20 to the Louisville Kings in the United Bowl on June 13.

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“(The Riders) won the championship, so I’m trying to get one since I lost,” Roberson said.

The six-foot-four, 250-pound defensive end spent three seasons (2019–2021) with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, appearing in 19 games. He had 29 tackles, six tackles for loss and five sacks in that time.

Prior to joining the NFL, he spent three collegiate seasons at Sam Houston State. As a senior, he started all 11 games and totalled 68 tackles (39 solo), 21 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, five forced fumbles, and two pass breakups. He went undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft.

Roberson most recently spent three seasons (2024-26) with the Defenders. In 2026, he appeared in 11 games and recorded 47 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and was named an All-UFL defensive end.

The Riders announced they signed Roberson on July 20.

“He’s an aggressive player. I think everything you saw about the guy prior to coming here, he just validated all that stuff that you see. A true pro. He understands what it means. He has been taking his time, learning stuff on the fly and try to pick up as much stuff as he can in the event he will get an opportunity to play,” said Riders head coach Corey Mace.

That opportunity could come as early as this week as the Riders take on the Edmonton Elks on Saturday. Kickoff for the game at Commonwealth Stadium is set for 5 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 3 p.m.

While he just wrapped up a season in the UFL, Roberson’s not worried about the quick turnaround to joining a CFL team.

“It’s really been easy, especially if you take care of your body. At this age, it’s all about being ready and staying ready,” Roberson said. “I just think about it like a month-and-a-half bye week.”

Now he’s making the adjustment to the Canadian game and all the nuances that come with three-down football.

“It’s a little bit different, especially that yard off the ball,” Roberson said. “With me and how I play the ball, I line up as close as possible so that yard off the ball, I have been adjusting to it. I have had to take a couple more steps in the pass-rush, a little better timing. After a couple days of practice, you get that timing down and it gets a little bit better.”

He’s hopeful to get the chance to suit up this weekend for the Riders.

“I’m itching to play. Still don’t know if I’m up or not, but itching to play,” Roberson said.

Wide receiver Sam Emilus (foot) did not practise for the second straight day. Mace said the team is “pretty hopeful” when it comes to Emilus and expects him to be on the field for Thursday’s closed practice. Defensive back Rolan Milligan left practice early and was listed as limited with a knee injury.