Saskatchewan Roughriders release opening-day starter Jaylen Johnson

Photo: Tanner Piper/Piper Sports Photography/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have released American receiver Jaylen Johnson.

The 26-year-old started the first three games of the season for the Riders before being placed on the one-game injured list. He caught nine passes for 117 yards in his time with the team.

Johnson began his career with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He recorded three receptions for 53 yards in one preseason game and spent the majority of that season on the team’s practice roster. The six-foot-one, 200-pound pass catcher made his NFL debut on October 27, 2024 against the New Orleans Saints. He earned approximately $418,000 USD while in the NFL.

Collegiately, Johnson played at East Carolina University from 2022 through 2023 after walking on at the University of Georgia and spending four years with the Bulldogs. At Georgia, he dressed for 28 games, notching five grabs for 49 yards.

Over two seasons with the Pirates, Johnson registered 71 receptions for 806 yards with six touchdowns. He produced 45 catches for 466 yards and two touchdowns as a senior.

The Saskatchewan Riders (5-2) host the Ottawa Redblacks (0-7) on Friday, August 7, with kickoff scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on 620 CKRM in Regina or TSN 1200 in Ottawa.