The Saskatchewan Roughriders already have one of the top defenses in the Canadian Football League (CFL), but now its stock is on the rise with the addition of defensive end Derick Roberson. Roberson signed with the Riders July 20. He’s spent just three weeks in Green and White and is already making a impact. “Up here, the game moves a lot faster than it does down south,” he admitted about the transition from 11-man to 12-man football. “With only [three] downs, everything moves a lot faster, so your conditioning has to be a lot better.” Playing in his first CFL game Saturday against Edmonton, Saskatchewan sprinkled Roberson into the game on special teams. In the second half, he saw more snaps on the defensive line and immediately got his first sack – tackling Elks’ QB Cody Fajardo behind the line of scrimmage. “I’m just trying to put some more game tape out there,” Roberson said. “I didn’t want to just sit on the couch while everybody else [is] at camp.” Despite it being his first CFL sack, the tackle of Fajardo was not Roberson’s first time taking down a professional QB. Roberson spent three seasons (2019–2021) with the Tennessee Titans, appearing in 19 games. He recorded 29 tackles, six tackles for loss and five sacks. The first of his career: Pro Football Hall of Famer Drew Brees. Roberson most recently spent three seasons (2024-26) with the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). In 2026, he appeared in 11 games and recorded 47 tackles, 12 tackles for loss totaling 79 yards, eight sacks, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and was named an All-UFL defensive end en route to a UFL championship game appearance. The Sam Houston State product admits he is still transitioning to the Canadian style. “It took me about a couple of days to get [one yard] off the ball,” Roberson said. “I was losing one on one pass reps and I was like, ‘I can’t do this.’ My pass needs to get better off the block, but at first it was a little bit tricky.” Saskatchewan defense is ranked third in the CFL – behind Edmonton and Montreal, the two teams ahead of the Riders in the league standings. The Riders are second in the league in sacks as well. Roberson’s addition only adds to Saskatchewan’s potent pass rush. “He had to figure out, ‘Okay, special teams, the speed of the game’s different,” head coach Corey Mace said about the defensive end. “Now he’s got his wind underneath him. Then he was able to cut loose.” “He’s still learning the system, but certainly a guy, I think, can help us the rest of the season,” he added. Roberson says now that he is feeling more accustomed to the CFL, he will let his game do the talking. “Once you learn the rules and like, the yard off; the ball gets rolling,” he said. “But like, I’ve been rolling ever since that first week, so I’m back in motion now.”
