TSN insider Farhan Lalji doesn’t believe the door is closed on Ajou Ajou’s professional football career, even after a suspension and his release from the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Speaking on the SportsCage, Lalji said while the situation is serious and disappointing, he expects the talented receiver will eventually get another opportunity in the Canadian Football League.
“I don’t think his career is over,” Lalji said.
Ajou was released by Saskatchewan last week following a league investigation that found he violated the CFL’s gender-based violence and harassment policy. The league handed down a suspension that will keep him out for two pre-season and at least the first six games of the regular season.
While Roughriders' general manager Jeremy O’Day made it clear Ajou will not return to the organization, the CFL left the door open for a future comeback contingent on counselling, evaluation, and a meeting with commissioner Stewart Johnson. That pathway back is a key reason Lalji believes Ajou’s career isn’t finished.
“The punishment, there’s an entry point back in,” Lalji explained, noting the process includes counselling and demonstrating remorse.
Lalji also pointed out that, based on his understanding, the incident did not involve a physical altercation, something he believes will factor into how teams evaluate Ajou moving forward.
“I think once that happens, I think he will get another opportunity to play again,” he said.
In fact, Lalji suggested that opportunity could come sooner than many expect.
“I would not be surprised if Ajou got signed by somebody and was back on the field before the end of the year.”
That timeline would depend heavily on how Ajou handles the league-mandated conditions, including counselling and demonstrating accountability. Lalji also compared the situation to other recent CFL cases, noting Ajou does not carry the same history as some players who have faced longer absences.
“There’s some talent there, once he shows that level of contrition, remorse, rehabilitation, I do see a scenario where he’s back this year,” Lalji said.
Ajou, who played college football at Clemson, South Florida, and Garden City, showed flashes of potential during his time in Saskatchewan, recording 42 receptions for 519 yards and two touchdowns over two seasons. Ajou also caught the eye of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts and was invited to their 2025 training camp.
For now, his future remains uncertain, but if Lalji’s read on the situation proves accurate, the 25-year-old’s CFL story may not be over just yet.
