The Saskatchewan Roughriders added two nationals to the roster on Wednesday. The team announced the signing of long snapper Mike Benson and defensive back Jonathan Edouard. The Winnipeg-born Benson (5-foot-11, 224 pounds) has played in 158 games over 12 seasons in the CFL – most recently spending the last five seasons with his hometown Blue Bombers. Prior to that, Benson also spent time with the Edmonton Elks, BC Lions and Ottawa Redblacks. “The Mike Benson around-the-world trip is almost complete,” he joked. “I had a few guys ask you, ‘Where were you before this?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, it’s easier to tell you where I haven’t been.’ That [makes] for a little bit of a shorter conversation, but it’s nice to be here.” Benson was brought in as Saskatchewan deals with injuries throughout the lineup. Starting long snapper Aaron Crawford has missed both of the team’s practices this week with a knee injury. “I don’t want to say it’s a long-term thing,” head coach Corey Mace told reporters Wednesday. “That’s a position where a lot of teams don’t have a lot of backups for that role. So [we] have to be really smart with that situation.” Benson joins a Riders’ special teams contingent which has two CFL rookie Aussie kickers in Oscar Chapman and Alex Hale. “I’m really fortunate,” Benson said. “We had an Australian back in Winnipeg too. Not to say they’re cut from the same cloth, but they’re very easygoing, very understanding guys – very laid back and very easy to work with.” “Specialists can be very particular and these guys have made it very easy for day one – it’s been great so far,” he added. Benson made three consecutive Grey Cup appearances and was part of the 2021 Bombers’ championship team. “With B.C. on Oct. 21, 2017, he had the rare distinction of scoring a touchdown as a long snapper. Providing coverage after snapping the ball to the punter, he recovered a fumble deep in Edmonton territory and scored from six yards away. His CFL statistical ledger also includes 23 special teams tackles,” read the Riders’ announcement. Benson also previously played junior football with the Winnipeg Rifles and played for the Axemen while attending Acadia University. As a Winnipeg born-and-raised player, he said being in Green and White is not as weird as one might think. “My family and friends would probably say that,” Benson said. “But for me, being a professional and I’ve got friends on the team already, it doesn’t really matter what colours you wear. You’re here for the same goal, we all want to win.” Edouard (5-foot-11, 185 pounds) was born in Orlando, Fla. but earned national status by attending Carleton University in Ottawa. He played with the Toronto Argonauts over the past three seasons, logging 13 defensive tackles, 23 special teams tackles, a sack and an interception. Edouard was also part of the 2024 Grey Cup champion team. At Carleton, Edouard logged 55 tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 15 games, earning a second-team OU All Star nod in 2018. Prior to that, he played college football in the U.S. at Henderson State where he recorded 69 tackles, a sack and two interceptions in 32 games with the Reddies. Edouard appears to provide some additional depth as Saskatchewan deals with various injuries in the defensive backfield. As Mace told reporters Tuesday, halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. will be out of the lineup for at least the next couple weeks after he exited Saskatchewan’s win over the B.C. Lions in Week 2. The Roughriders are also dealing with another injury in the secondary, as free safety Nelson Lokombo has also been absent from both of the team’s practices this week. “We’re playing that one slow,” Mace said about Lokombo. “[Thursday] will be a good test for us. Worst case, there’s always a game time decision for us.” “Tried to be smart and give him today,” the coach added.
