The Saskatchewan Roughriders are bringing back a key contributor from their 2025 Grey Cup championship team.
The Riders announced Wednesday they have signed American defensive lineman Aaron Patrick, who spent the 2025 season in Saskatchewan and emerged as an important piece of the team’s special teams units.
Patrick, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 250 pounds, dressed in all 16 regular-season games for the Roughriders last season, recording seven special teams tackles. He also suited up for both of Saskatchewan’s playoff games, including the team’s Grey Cup victory.
While Patrick’s statistics may not jump off the page, his impact on special teams was significant. The defensive lineman routinely drew double-team blocking assignments in coverage, helping create opportunities for the rest of Saskatchewan’s special teams unit.
The 28-year-old originally joined the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent time on Jacksonville’s practice squad before the Denver Broncos claimed him and signed him to their active roster in September 2021.
Patrick appeared in 12 games with Denver that season, starting once and recording eight tackles. He returned for five games in 2022 and added six tackles before a knee injury ended his season. The Broncos waived him ahead of the 2023 campaign.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Patrick played five seasons at Eastern Kentucky from 2015 to 2019. He finished his collegiate career with 27.5 sacks, just 1.5 sacks shy of the school’s all-time record.
Patrick was a First-Team Ohio Valley Conference All-Star three times and saved his best season for last. In 2019, he recorded 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss while earning OVC Defensive Player of the Year honours and Associated Press First-Team FCS All-American recognition. He was also a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player in the FCS.
For the Roughriders, Patrick’s return is about more than adding another defensive lineman. His experience in Saskatchewan and proven ability to make an impact on special teams gives the defending Grey Cup champions another familiar and versatile piece heading into the second half of the season.
The Riders are off until Saturday when they host the Toronto Argonauts at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff is at 5 p.m.
