Regina: Aaron Patrick rejoins Roughriders for second half of season

By Liam Tremblay — 26 August 2026 — 4 min read

Patrick’s Return to the Roughriders

Aaron Patrick, a defensive lineman and special teams player, has rejoined the Saskatchewan Roughriders for practice on Wednesday. His return follows a period on the retired list, which began on May 10. Patrick’s previous season with the Roughriders concluded with the team’s 2025 Grey Cup victory, where green and white confetti marked the championship win.

Patrick, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 250 pounds, indicated that he had personal matters to address during the off-season. He expressed a belief that he can contribute to the team’s progress, a sentiment shared by the coaching staff. His focus remains on helping the team secure another championship, echoing his objective from the previous year.

Head Coach Corey Mace welcomed Patrick’s return, highlighting his versatility on the defensive line and his established reputation on special teams. Mace noted that the team is pleased to have him back.

Impact on Special Teams and Previous Experience

Patrick’s contributions to special teams were significant in the Roughriders’ 2025 Grey Cup win. During the 2025 season, he played in 16 regular season games for the Roughriders, recording seven special teams tackles. He also participated in both playoff games, including the Grey Cup, where he maintained his strong presence on special teams and frequently drew double-team blocking assignments in coverage.

Before joining the Roughriders, Patrick developed his special teams expertise in the NFL. He played in 17 regular-season games for the Denver Broncos across the 2021 and 2022 seasons. In 2021, he appeared in 12 games for the Broncos, making one start and tallying eight tackles. The following season, he played in five games, registering six tackles before sustaining a knee injury. He was waived by the Broncos before the 2023 season.

Patrick initially signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent after the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent time on the Jaguars’ practice squad late in the 2020 season and early in the 2021 campaign before being claimed by the Denver Broncos and added to their active roster on September 23, 2021.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, Patrick played collegiate football at Eastern Kentucky from 2015 to 2019. During his college career, he accumulated 27.5 sacks, which was just 1.5 sacks shy of the Colonels’ all-time record. He was recognized as a First-Team Ohio Valley Conference All-Star in 2016, 2018, and 2019. In his final season, 2019, he was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year and received Associated Press First-Team FCS All-American honours. That year, he recorded 10 sacks and 17 tackles for a loss, making him a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is given annually to the top defensive player in the FCS.

Preparation and Upcoming Schedule

Despite his time away, Patrick is reportedly in excellent physical condition for his second season with Saskatchewan. He acknowledged that while off-season drills are beneficial, nothing fully replicates the experience of being on the field at game speed. He emphasized that practice and actual games are the only true preparations for competition.

Patrick expressed readiness to contribute immediately, drawing on his professional experience. He views his return as a continuation of his role, focusing on performing his duties for the team.

The Roughriders have not yet confirmed if Patrick will be in the lineup for Saturday’s home game against the Toronto Argonauts. Over 30,000 tickets have already been sold for this contest. Following the game against Toronto, Saskatchewan will prepare for its annual home-and-home series with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Winnipeg is scheduled to visit Mosaic Stadium on September 6 for the 61st Labour Day Classic.

In other team news, two starting receivers, Samuel Emilus and Johnny Johnson III, did not participate in Wednesday’s practice. Johnson III sustained a head injury during Sunday’s road game against the B.C. Lions. Emilus, who had recently returned to the lineup after missing three previous games, has been placed on the six-game injured list due to a leg injury. Coach Mace stated that he does not believe Emilus’s injury is season-ending.

Source: riderville.com