Riders Re-Acquire Brett Lauther

Well, how about this for a CFL trade deadline storyline?

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are bringing Brett Lauther back.

The Riders announced Wednesday morning the acquisition of their former kicker from the Ottawa REDBLACKS, reuniting with a player who spent eight seasons in Saskatchewan and helped the franchise capture the 112th Grey Cup last November.

It’s a fascinating turn of events for a player whose Saskatchewan tenure appeared to be over just a few months ago.

The Roughriders released Lauther in February following a difficult 2025 season in which he converted just 39-of-54 field-goal attempts — 72.2 percent — while also making 31-of-34 converts. General manager Jeremy O’Day acknowledged at the time that releasing the veteran was an extremely difficult decision.

Lauther subsequently signed with Ottawa, where he has experienced something of a renaissance.

And that’s precisely what makes Wednesday’s reunion so intriguing.

Heading into the trade deadline, Lauther had connected on 32-of-34 field-goal attempts in 2026, good for a 94.1 percent success rate, while making 22-of-23 converts. He had also averaged 65.6 yards on kickoffs. Those numbers put him among the CFL’s most accurate kickers this season.

In other words, Saskatchewan isn’t simply bringing back a familiar face.

They’re bringing back a kicker who has been exceptionally productive this season.

And the timing couldn’t be more interesting.

The Roughriders have already gone through a revolving door at kicker this season. Alex Hale was moved to the practice roster earlier this month after converting 24-of-32 field-goal attempts, including just six-of-13 from 40 yards or longer. Dawson Hodge subsequently took over the kicking duties.

Now Lauther is back in the picture.

For Rider Nation, there’s obviously an emotional component to this move.

Lauther wasn’t merely another player during his Saskatchewan tenure. The Truro, Nova Scotia product became a fixture in the community and locker room, and he was part of the club’s 2025 Grey Cup championship.

When he signed with Ottawa in April, Lauther made it clear that his connection to Saskatchewan hadn’t disappeared.

“I’m a Rider for life,” Lauther said at the time, while describing the organization, the fans and his years in Regina in glowing terms. He met his wife in Saskatchewan, raised his daughter there and developed lifelong friendships during his time with the club.

Now, incredibly, he’ll get another chapter.

From a football standpoint, the move is also about addressing a position that has been unsettled for Saskatchewan.

The Riders are sitting in the thick of the Western Division playoff picture and have their postseason aspirations in front of them. The CFL’s Week 18 schedule has Saskatchewan hosting Calgary on October 2, while the playoff scenarios show that a Saskatchewan victory would clinch a postseason berth.

That makes special teams especially important.

Close games in November are frequently decided by a field goal, a convert, field position or a kickoff. Saskatchewan knows exactly what Lauther can provide in those situations — and, after watching him regain his form in Ottawa, the Riders evidently decided it was time to bring him back.

There’s also something poetic about the whole thing.

Lauther was released after a disappointing 2025 regular season, signed elsewhere, rediscovered his kicking stroke and now finds himself back where he spent the bulk of his CFL career.

The Riders weren’t able to find a permanent answer after moving on from him.

Lauther wasn’t able to stay away from Saskatchewan forever.

And now, with the most important football of the season approaching, both sides get another chance.

Brett Lauther is a Roughrider again.

Sometimes the CFL really does write the best stories.