CFL Notebook: Riders Extend Milligan, Rourke Re-Structures

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. to a one-year contract extension through the 2026 season.  

Milligan Jr. (5’11-200) is coming off a standout season that saw him named the CFL’s reigning Most Outstanding Defensive Player, becoming just the second defensive back in league history to so do. In addition to his CFL Award, the Lake Wales, Fla. native was named to the 2024 All-CFL Team and was the team’s nominee in three awards categories: Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Defensive Player and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player. Milligan Jr. was also named top defensive back in the CFL by Pro Football Focus in Weeks 1, 5 and 17, and the top special teams player for the month of June. 

Meanwhile the Roughriders have signed Canadian defensive back Kosi Onyeka to a contract extension.

The 25-year-old has 25 special-teams tackles in 27 games over three seasons with Saskatchewan. 

He had a career-high of 17 special teams tackles in 2023, including a four-tackle game in Week 11 against the B.C. Lions

Onyeka has also registered three career defensive tackles and one forced fumble.

The BC Lions and Nathan Rourke finalized an agreement to re-structure the quarterback’s contract, the team announced on Friday. Rourke remains signed by the Lions through 2026 after re-joining the squad on a three-year pact upon his return from the NFL on August 13 of last season.

“Nathan’s re-structured deal allows us to continue to build our roster for success this year and beyond,” said general manager Ryan Rigmaiden. 

“We’re excited to have him leading our offence and feel he’ll continue to ascend to the level we’ve seen him perform.”

Winner of the CFL Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 2022, Rourke has suited up in 33 regular season games with 20 starts across 2021-22 and 2024. Over that span, the Victoria native has completed 443 passes for 5,884 yards and 32 touchdown strikes while adding 81 carries for 628 yards and 17 majors on the ground.

In his playoff debut in the 2022 Western Semi-Final win over Calgary, Rourke finished 22/30 for 321 yards and two touchdown passes.

(Vancouver) – The BC Lions scored on a major completion Friday as National wide receiver Justin McInnis, a pending free agent on February 11, signed a two-year contract extension with the team.

“Justin has evolved into an elite game- breaker in this league and we feel his ceiling can be even higher as we integrate our players into Buck Pierce’s offence,” said general manager Ryan Rigmaiden.

2024 was a breakout year for McInnis who became the first Canadian since Andy Fantuz in 2010 to lead the CFL in receiving, hauling in 92 receptions for 1,469 yards and seven touchdowns.

The yard total was the second-highest ever by a Canadian Lion in one season after Matt Clark in 1991 (1,530) and eighth-best for a Canadian all-time, surpassing the likes of Fantuz, Brad Sinopoli, Jeff Fairholm and Ray Elgaard. McInnis capped it off by earning All-CFL and West Division All-CFL honours and the team nomination for Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian.

The Quebec native originally joined the Lions as a free agent ahead of 2023 and recorded 46 catches for 690 yards and five touchdowns across 18 regular season games.

Selected sixth overall by Saskatchewan in the 2019 CFL Draft, McInnis suited up in 33 games over three seasons with the green and white with 48 receptions for 596 yards and two majors.

Argos Re-Sign Grant

The Toronto Argonauts have re-signed outstanding special teams player Janarion Grant, the CFL team announced Friday.

Grant led the league with 989 yards, a 14.8-yard average and three touchdowns on punt returns in 2024, his first season with the Argonauts.

He also finished fourth with 1,000 kick return yards, including a 103-yard touchdown return.

Grant was named a CFL all-star for the second time in 2024 and earned his third Grey Cup ring when Toronto defeated Winnipeg 41-24 in the championship game in November.

The 31-year-old from Trilby, Fla., spent four seasons in Winnipeg before joining the Argos and helped the Bombers win Grey Cup titles in 2019 and 2021.

He has 10 punt return touchdowns and two kick return touchdowns in 57 career regular season games with Winnipeg and Toronto.

“Last year Janarion put the special in special teams,” Argos general manager Mike (Pinball) Clemons said in a release. “He’s not just effective, but exhilarating, increasing the blood flow in your veins. He is sure to lift Argo fans out of their seats once again, bringing a phenomenal five return touchdowns into this season.”

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Redblacks confirm coaching staff

OTTAWA — The Redblacks have confirmed their 2025 coaching lineup, with some major changes to Bob Dyce’s staff.

Along with bringing back Rick Campbell, the former head coach now serving as special-teams co-ordinator, the Redblacks are also adding William Fields as defensive co-ordinator. Fields comes from the Grey Cup champion Argonauts, where he was the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach last season

Returning coaches include offensive co-ordinator Tommy Condell, who helped the Redblacks finish second in passing yards (5,455) in 2024.

Other members of Dyce’s staff include assistant head coach and linebackers coach Deion Melvin, running backs coach Nate Taylor, offensive line coach Mike Gibson, defensive line coach Kai Ellis, defensive backs coach Myron Lewis and coaching assistant Isaiah Johns.

Dyce, who is entering his third season as Ottawa’s head coach, helped the Redblacks make the playoffs for the first time since 2018 last year. 

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Ticats re-sign Canadian receiver Ternowski

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have re-signed national receiver Tyler Ternowski.

Ternowski had six receptions for 67 yards and 12 special teams tackles in 16 games last season.

He has played 37 games over his four seasons with his hometown team, totalling 28 receptions for 346 yards and one touchdown with 21 special teams tackles.

Ternowski was selected by the Tiger-Cats in the third round, 27th overall, of the 2020 CFL draft after spending his collegiate career at the University of Waterloo.

(With files from CP/BC Lions PR)