Saskatchewan Roughriders sign NFL veteran JuJu Hughes

Photo courtesy: Brevin Townsell/LA Rams

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American defensive back Juwuane “JuJu” Hughes to their training camp roster.

The five-foot-11, 190-pound safety played 26 games over three seasons in the NFL, signing with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He later spent time with the Detroit Lions, before a training camp stint with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023. He registered 26 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack.

Hughes earned over $3.9 million in his NFL career. He last played for the Birmingham Stallions in the United Football League in 2024, making four tackles in two games.

The 27-year-old attended Fresno State University, where he recorded 247 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, 30 pass deflections, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 52 games. He was named a second-team All-Mountain West selection in 2018 and an honourable mention in 2016 and 2019. 

The Saskatchewan Roughriders kept most of their big names in free agency but still suffered some key losses, including quarterback Jake Maier (Ottawa Redblacks), receiver Tommy Nield (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), defensive lineman Malik Carney (Edmonton Elks), linebacker A.J. Allen (Ottawa Redblacks), and strong-side linebacker C.J. Reavis (Ottawa Redblacks). Micah Johnson retired to become the team’s defensive line coach, while receiver Dohnte Meyers departed for an NFL shot with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Roughriders hold the ninth overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. Saskatchewan will play its first preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders on Monday, May 18 and its first regular-season game against the B.C. Lions on Saturday, June 13.

In 2025, Saskatchewan finished first in the West Division standings with a 12-6 record. The team went on to defeat the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg, marking the club’s first championship in 12 years.