B.C. Lions release American QB Jarret Doege, 16 others

Photo courtesy: Steven Chang/B.C. Lions

The B.C. Lions have released 17 players to comply with the CFL’s mandatory 2026 roster cutdown deadline, including American quarterback Jarret Doege.

The 28-year-old Doege signed with the Leos on May 15 after he was released by the Toronto Argonauts. He dressed in 18 regular-season games for the Argos last season and made three starts, completing 68.3 percent of his passes for 905 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The six-foot-one, 210-pound passer was released by Toronto on May 12 as part of the mid-training camp roster cutdown.

Doege spent 2023 and 2024 with the Edmonton Elks, suiting up for 20 regular-season games. He completed 63 percent of his passes for 593 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions while rushing eight times for 23 yards. The Lubbock, TX native started one game for the Elks, a 26-7 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks in 2023.

The 28-year-old finished his collegiate career at Troy University in 2022 following stints at Bowling Green (2017-18) and West Virginia (2019-21). In total, he threw for 11,069 yards, 84 touchdowns, and 37 interceptions over 53 career collegiate games.

He’s the younger brother of former CFL quarterback Seth Doege.

The Lions also released Canadian receiver Hergy Mayala; American receivers Jaelon Darden, Michael Fitzgerald, Jermaine Jackson, and Kaedin Robinson; Canadian offensive lineman Ethan Graham; American offensive lineman Christian Olmstead; Canadian defensive lineman Ebenezer Dibula; American defensive linemen AJ Pena and Mayan Ahanotu; American linebacker Jeremy Lewis; and American defensive backs Dionte Ruffin, Essang Bassey, Tyler Coyle, Lorando Johnson, and Morice Norris.

Mayala joined the Lions late last season as a member of the practice roster. The 30-year-old was originally selected in the first round of the 2018 CFL Draft by the Calgary Stampeders and has since spent time with the Stamps, Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Edmonton Elks, and Toronto Argonauts. The Montreal native has caught 151 receptions for 1,916 yards and 12 touchdowns in his CFL career.

Jackson suited up in four games last season, catching nine passes for 61 yards. He also handled return duties, fielding 10 punts for 83 yards and seven kickoffs for 146 yards.

Lewis was a preseason standout for B.C. in 2025, spending the majority of the year on the practice roster. He appeared in two games, recording three tackles.

Ruffin joined the team this offseason after his release from the Montreal Alouettes, where he played 37 games over three seasons. He previously played nine games for the Calgary Stampeders in 2022. All told, the 27-year-old has amassed 129 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, a forced fumble, six interceptions, and a defensive touchdown in his CFL career.

Coyle appeared in two games as a rookie in 2025, but spent the majority of the year on the injured list. He recorded one special teams tackle.

B.C. added the following 12 players to the practice roster: American running back Emani Bailey; American receivers Silas Bolden and Jaden Williams; Canadian offensive lineman Alex Berwick; American offensive lineman Tyran Hunt; American defensive linemen T.J. Burke, Colby Taylor, and David Gusta; American linebacker Ralen Goforth; Canadian linebackers Chase Henning and Dawson Pierre; and American defensive back Stantley Thomas-Oliver.

The B.C. Lions are on a bye in Week 1 and will play their first regular-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, June 13. The team finished second in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record. They beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final but lost the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.