The Saskatchewan Roughriders have announced their first round of roster cuts as main training camp gets underway on Sunday. To meet the CFL roster limit of 85 players following rookie camp, the team released eight American players and placed four others on the retired list.
Released Players
The following eight American players were released: defensive lineman Sundiata Anderson, running back Peny Boone, receiver Collin Brunstein, defensive back D'Angelo Mandell, defensive back Austin McKinney, defensive lineman Kevin Orange, defensive lineman Nathan Pickering, and offensive lineman Dartanyan Tinsley.
Players Moved to Retired List
Four American players have been moved to the retired list: kicker Alex Hale, offensive lineman Justin Osborne, defensive lineman Aaron Patrick, and receiver Freddie Swain.
Patrick, 29, is the most notable name among those retired. He played in 16 games for the Roughriders last season, recording seven special teams tackles, and was considered a front-runner for the starting defensive end position. Swain, 27, brought 33 games of NFL experience with the Seattle Seahawks and was an intriguing prospect heading into camp.
Injury Update
The club also placed Canadian linebacker Ryder Varga on the six-game injured list. Varga, a Regina product, signed with the Roughriders on May 6 after playing for the Toronto Argonauts last season and previously spending two years with the B.C. Lions.
The Roughriders will continue to trim their roster as training camp progresses, with the final roster set ahead of the regular season.
