The 2018 Saskatchewan Roughriders season was the 61st season for the team in the Canadian Football League (CFL). It was the club's 109th year overall, and its 103rd season of play. The Roughriders improved upon their 10–8 record from 2017 with a 12–6 record and qualified for the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The team hosted the first ever playoff game at the new Mosaic Stadium, but lost to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Semi-Final. This was the third season under head coach and general manager Chris Jones.

The club held their training camp at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon, for the sixth consecutive season, with the main camp beginning on May 20.Rider to hold 2017 Coors Light Training Camp in Saskatoon

The Roughriders became the first team to defeat the Calgary Stampeders in the 2018 regular season with a 40–27 win on August 19. At the time, they were also the only team to have lost to the Montreal Alouettes in the regular season, thus becoming the first team to be both the only team to beat a previously undefeated opponent and the only one to lose to a different opponent with a previously winless record after playing eight games of a professional football season.

Offseason On December 8, 2017, the Roughriders released Beau Landry, Zach Minter, Ivan Brown and Cameron Ontko. On December 20, 2017, it was announced the Roughriders re-signed Canadian quarterback Brandon Bridge, who split starting duties with Kevin Glenn during the 2017 season. The next day, the Roughriders would re-sign veteran defensive back Jovon Johnson and offensive lineman Thaddeus Coleman. On December 27, 2017, the Roughriders re-signed kick returner and the team's top rookie Christion Jones. Two days later, they would re-sign defensive back Crezdon Butler.

On January 3, 2018, the Roughriders acquired quarterback Zach Collaros from the Hamilton Tiger Cats. The next day, the Roughriders released veteran quarterback Kevin Glenn. On January 19, 2018, the Roughriders signed Collaros to a restructured contract for 2018. On January 22, 2018, the Roughriders re-signed star receiver Duron Carter to a one-year contract extension. On January 31, 2018, the Roughriders released linebacker Jeff Knox to pursue an opportunity in the National Football League. On February 1, 2018, the Roughriders released running backs Kienan LaFrance and Shakir Bell. The next day, the Roughriders acquired defensive lineman Charleston Hughes from the Hamilton Tiger Cats in exchange for quarterback Vernon Adams. On February 3, the Roughriders released Kacy Rodgers II so he could pursue an NFL opportunity with the New York Jets. The team also released international defensive back Erick Dargan.

On February 13, 2018, the first day of CFL free agency, the Roughriders re-signed national offensive lineman Dan Clark and fullback Spencer Moore. The team signed national defensive lineman Zack Evans. They also released international linebacker Glenn Love and offensive lineman Derek Dennis, who was their top free agent signing from 2017. The next day, the Roughriders officially announced the signing of national running back Jerome Messam and national linebacker Sam Hurl, both of whom had played for the team previously.

On February 15, 2018, the Roughriders signed international offensive lineman Travis Bond and national defensive back Adam Laurensse, but released their top defensive player from 2017 in national linebacker Henoc Muamba. On February 19, the Roughriders announced the signing of national receiver Jake Harty. The next day, the team announced international defensive end Charleston Hughes had signed an extension through 2019.

On February 22, 2018, the Roughriders re-signed international offensive lineman Jarvis Harrison, receiver TJ Thorpe, offensive lineman Terran Vaughn and defensive back Melvin White. They also signed international receivers Shaq Evans and Jacoby Ford.

CFL draft The 2018 CFL draft took place on May 3, 2018.CFL draft date announced The Roughriders had five selections in the eight-round draft.2018 CFL Draft tracker

Round Pick Player Position School/Club team 1 5 Dakoda Shepley OL British Columbia 2 14 Micah Teitz LB Calgary 5 36 Mathieu Breton DL Bishop's 6 45 Tresor Buama-Mafuta DL Saint Mary's 8 63 Christopher Smith OL York

Preseason

Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score Record1 Sun, May 27 3:00 p.m. CST at Edmonton Eskimos L 12–35 0–1 TSN Commonwealth Stadium 28,374 Recap 2 Bye3 Fri, June 8 7:30 p.m. CST vs. Calgary Stampeders L 12–39 0–2 None Mosaic Stadium 29,006 Recap 2018 Saskatchewan Roughriders Schedule

Games played with primary home uniforms.

Regular season

Standings

Schedule As the province of Saskatchewan does not observe Daylight Saving Time, all times quoted here (in CST) are the same as Mountain Daylight Time.

Week Game Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score Record 11 Fri, June 15 7:00 p.m. CST vs. Toronto Argonauts W 27–19 1–0 TSN/RDS2/ESPN2 Mosaic Stadium 29,788 Recap 22 Thurs, June 21 5:30 p.m. CST at Ottawa Redblacks L 17–40 1–1 TSN/RDS TD Place Stadium 24,224 Recap 33 Sat, June 30 7:00 p.m. CST vs. Montreal Alouettes L 17–23 1–2 TSN/RDS Mosaic Stadium 33,350 Recap 44 Thurs, July 5 7:00 p.m. CST vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 18–13 2–2 TSN Mosaic Stadium 30,594 Recap 5 Bye 65 Thurs, July 19 5:30 p.m. CST at Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 31–20 3–2 TSN/RDS Tim Hortons Field 23,346 Recap 76 Sat, July 28 7:00 p.m. CST vs. Calgary Stampeders L 22–34 3–3 TSN/ESPN2 Mosaic Stadium 33,350 Recap 87 Thurs, Aug 2 8:00 p.m. CST at Edmonton Eskimos L 19–26 3–4 TSN Commonwealth Stadium 35,623 Recap 9 Bye 108 Sun, Aug 19 5:00 p.m. CST vs. Calgary Stampeders W 40–27 4–4 TSN Mosaic Stadium 33,350 Recap 119 Sat, Aug 25 8:00 p.m. CST at BC Lions W 24–21 5–4 TSN BC Place 22,873 Recap 12ǁ 10 ǁ Sun, Sep 2 1:00 p.m. CST vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers W 31–23 6–4 TSN Mosaic Stadium 33,350 Recap 1311 Sat, Sept 8 2:00 p.m. CST at Winnipeg Blue Bombers W 32–27 7–4 TSN Investors Group Field 33,134 Recap 1412 Sat, Sept 15 7:30 p.m. CST vs. Ottawa Redblacks L 25–30 7–5 TSN/RDS Mosaic Stadium 33,350 Recap 1513 Sat, Sept 22 5:00 p.m. CST at Toronto Argonauts W 30–29 8–5 TSN BMO Field 14,479 Recap 1614 Sun, Sept 30 11:00 a.m. CST at Montreal Alouettes W 34–29 9–5 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 Molson Stadium 18,370 Recap 1715 Mon, Oct 8 2:00 p.m. CST vs. Edmonton Eskimos W 19–12 10–5 TSN Mosaic Stadium 31,335 Recap 1816 Sat, Oct 13 12:00 p.m. CST at Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 0–31 10–6 TSN Investors Group Field 26,070 Recap 1917 Sat, Oct 20 5:00 p.m. CST at Calgary Stampeders W 29–25 11–6 TSN McMahon Stadium 30,868 Recap 2018 Sat, Oct 27 5:00 p.m. CST vs. BC Lions W 35–16 12–6 TSN Mosaic Stadium 30,091 Recap 21 Bye

2018 scheduleJust in time for the holidays: The 2018 CFL schedule

Games played with primary home uniforms. Games played with white uniforms. Games played with retro alternate uniforms.

Post-season

Schedule Game Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score Recordǁ West Semi-Final ǁ Sun, Nov 11 3:30 p.m. CST vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 18–23 0–1 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 Mosaic Stadium 30,609 Recap

Games played with retro alternate uniforms.

Roster 2018 Saskatchewan Roughriders final roster Quarterbacks

Running backs

Receivers

Offensive linemen G T T G/C G G

Defensive linemen DT DE DE DE DT DE DE DTLinebackers

FB

Defensive backs

RB Special teams P LS K

Practice roster DT DT DB T K DB

Suspended DB T Injured list WR LB G DT DB C LB K DE DE/DT WR WR DT DB SB RB DB SB LB T

Italics indicate International player Bold indicates Global player

Coaching staff Saskatchewan Roughriders Staff Front office President and ceo – Craig Reynolds General manager and director of football operations – Chris Jones Director of Player Personnel and Canadian Scouting – U.S. Scout – Ron Selesky Manager of Media Relations & Football Communications – Ryan Pollock Director of athletic therapy – Ivan Gutfriend Manager of equipment – Gordon Gilroy Manager of football research and development – Chad Hudson Manager of football administration – Aaron Thompson

Head coaches Head coach – Chris Jones Assistant head coach – Stephen McAdoo

Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Stephen McAdoo Quarterbacks & Passing Game Coordinator – Steve Walsh Offensive line – Mike Scheper Wide receivers – Travis Moore Running backs – Craig Davoren Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Chris Jones Defensive line – Ed Philion Linebackers – Cam Robinson Defensive backs – Jason Shivers

Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Craig Dickenson Special teams assistant – Craig Davoren

Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning coordinator – Dan Farthing

→ Coaching staff

References