The 2021 Saskatchewan Roughriders season was the 63rd season for the team in the Canadian Football League (CFL). It was the club's 112th year overall, and its 105th season of play. Although the club failed to record a second consecutive first place finish in the West Division, the Roughriders qualified for the post-season for the fourth consecutive season of play on October 30, 2021 following a win over the Montreal Alouettes. After defeating the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final, the Roughriders then lost the West Final to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the second consecutive season. This was the second season under head coach Craig Dickenson and general manager Jeremy O'Day.
An 18-game season schedule was originally released on November 20, 2020, but it was announced on April 21, 2021 that the start of the season would likely be delayed until August and feature a 14-game schedule. On June 15, 2021, the league released the revised 14-game schedule with regular season play beginning on August 5, 2021.
Offseason
CFL global draft The 2021 CFL global draft took place on April 15, 2021. The Roughriders selected fifth in each round of the snake draft.
Round Pick Player Position University/Club Team Nationality 1 5 Christopher Ezeala RB Ingolstadt Dukes Germany 2 14 Kaare Vedvik P Marshall Norway 3 23 Jon Henry Nell K N/A South Africa 4 32 Sebastien Sagne REC Frankfurt Universe Finland
CFL national draft The 2021 CFL draft took place on May 4, 2021. The Roughriders had six selections in the six-round snake draft and had the second pick in odd rounds and the eighth pick in even rounds.
Round Pick Player Position University team Hometown 1 2 Nelson Lokombo DB Saskatchewan Abbotsford, BC 2 17 Terrell Jana WR Virginia Vancouver, BC 3 20 Bruno Labelle TE Cincinnati Montreal, QC 4 35 Alain Cimankinda DL Guelph Gatineau, QC 5 38 Logan Bandy OL Calgary Calgary, AB 6 53 Matt Watson DB Mount Allison Brampton, ON
Preseason Due to the shortening of the season, the CFL confirmed that pre-season games would not be played in 2021.
Planned schedule Week Game Date Kickoff Opponent TV Venue A Bye B 1 Fri, May 28 6:30 p.m. CST at Winnipeg Blue Bombers IG Field C 2 Fri, June 5 7:00 p.m. CST vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Mosaic Stadium
Regular season
Standings
Schedule The Roughriders initially had a schedule that featured 18 regular season games beginning on June 12 and ending on October 23. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the Canadian Football League delayed the start of the regular season to August 5, 2021 and the Roughriders began their 14-game season on August 6, 2021.
Week Game Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score Record 11 Fri, Aug 6 7:30 p.m. CST BC Lions W 33–29 1–0 TSN Mosaic Stadium 32,975 Recap 22 Sat, Aug 14 8:00 p.m. CST Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 30–8 2–0 TSN/ESPNews Mosaic Stadium 27,076 Recap 33 Sat, Aug 21 5:00 p.m. CST Ottawa Redblacks W 23–10 3–0 TSN/RDS Mosaic Stadium 28,559 Recap 4 Bye 5ǁ 4 ǁ Sun, Sep 5 4:00 p.m. CST Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 8–23 3–1 TSN/ESPNews Mosaic Stadium 32,975 Recap 65 Sat, Sept 11 2:00 p.m. CST @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 9–33 3–2 TSN IG Field 33,234 Recap 76 Fri, Sept 17 7:45 p.m. CST Toronto Argonauts W 30–16 4–2 TSN Mosaic Stadium 25,883 Recap 87 Fri, Sept 24 8:30 p.m. CST @ BC Lions W 31–24 5–2 TSN/ESPN2 BC Place 12,500 Recap 98 Sat, Oct 2 5:00 p.m. CST @ Calgary Stampeders L 17–23 5–3 TSN McMahon Stadium 25,516 Recap 109 Sat, Oct 9 5:00 p.m. CST Calgary Stampeders L 19–22 5–4 TSN Mosaic Stadium 27,964 Recap 11 Bye 1210 Sat, Oct 23 7:45 p.m. CST @ Calgary Stampeders W 20–17 6–4 TSN McMahon Stadium 21,672 Recap 1311 Sat, Oct 30 5:00 p.m. CST @ Montreal Alouettes W 19–14 7–4 TSN/RDS Molson Stadium 11,817 Recap 1412 Fri, Nov 5 7:45 p.m. CST @ Edmonton Elks W 19–17 8–4 TSN Commonwealth Stadium 24,115 Recap 1513 Sat, Nov 13 3:00 p.m. CST Edmonton Elks W 29–24 9–4 TSN/RDS Mosaic Stadium 26,056 Recap 1614 Sat, Nov 20 3:00 p.m. CST @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 3–24 9–5 TSN/RDS Tim Hortons Field 22,344 Recap
Notes Saskatchewan was originally scheduled to host the first of their two games against Edmonton, but a COVID-19 outbreak affecting the Elks resulted in the League rescheduling a game originally scheduled for August 26 between Edmonton and Toronto. To help accommodate this change, the venues for the Roughriders' home-and-home series against the Elks have been reversed.
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 RecordWest Semi-Final Sun, Nov 28 3:30 p.m. CST Calgary Stampeders W 33–30 1–0 TSN/RDS/ESPNews Mosaic Stadium 24,001 RecapWest Final Sun, Dec 5 3:00 pm CST @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 17–21 1–1 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 IG Field 31,160 Recap
Games played with primary home uniforms. Games played with white uniforms.
Roster 2021 Saskatchewan Roughriders final roster Quarterbacks
Running backs
Receivers
Offensive linemen T C G/C G T G
Defensive linemen DE DT DE DT DT DT DE DE DE Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams LS K P Practice roster T DE DT SB DE RB K DB LB P
Suspended list WR T T DB G DB QB DB Injured list DE DB DB LB DB DB DB RB LB LB SB T LB LB DB WR DT SB SB LB LB DE G P LB T DE WR Italics indicate American player • Bold indicates Global player
Coaching staff Saskatchewan Roughriders staff Front office President and ceo – Craig Reynolds General manager and vice president of football operations – Jeremy O'Day Assistant general manager – Paul Jones Director of player personnel – Kyle Carson Director of football operations – Ryan Pollock Football operations coordinator – Jordan Greenly U.S. Scout – Ron Selesky Director of athletic therapy – Ivan Gutfriend Manager of equipment – Gordon Gilroy
Head coaches Head coach – Craig Dickenson
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Jason Maas Offensive line – Stephen Sorrells Receivers – Travis Moore Running backs – Tim Prinsen Offensive assistant – Josh Lambert Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Jason Shivers Defensive line – Ben Olson Linebackers – Deion Melvin Defensive backs – Richard Kent
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Craig Dickenson Special teams assistant – Kent Maugeri
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning coordinator – Clinton Spencer
→ Coaching staff
References
External links