Action, Jackson! Riders running back ready for first CFL start
Rob Vanstone
If Deon Jackson’s first CFL start looks anything like his first NFL start, that will be fabulous news for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and their fans.
Jackson made the most of his introductory front-line assignment with the Indianapolis Colts, amassing 121 yards from scrimmage against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 16, 2022. He rushed 12 times for 42 yards (and one touchdown) and caught 10 passes for 79 yards.
Five years and one week later, Jackson is poised to play for Saskatchewan in Saturday’s CFL regular-season finale against the Edmonton Elks (1 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
“I haven’t played football in a little minute,” the 6-foot-0, 220-pounder said on Friday. “It has been five months. I’m just excited to play in my third professional league and my first CFL game.”
Jackson suited up for the Colts, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants over three NFL seasons (2021 to 2023), appearing in 29 games.
He carried the ball 95 times for 283 yards and two touchdowns in addition to catching 35 passes for 223 yards and another major.
Over two seasons with the UFL’s DC Defenders, he rushed for 866 yards (averaging five yards per carry) and scored 11 TDs in 20 games.
For the 2026 Defenders, he rushed for 449 yards — only seven fewer than the league leader — in 10 games and scored seven TDs, one of which was on a 61-yard run. He had a 57-yard TD run in 2025.
The acceleration Jackson demonstrated at other levels has been noted since he signed with Saskatchewan on Sept. 20 and joined the practice roster.
“There have been a few people who have come through these doors in the last three years and, with the first impression, the coaches kind of look at each other (with raised eyebrows),” Head Coach Corey Mace said.
“Deon’s one of those where you go, ‘Oh … all right!’ You know you’ve got potentially a really good player.”
Jackson, 27, gets the nod after the decision was made to rest two-time 1,000-yard rusher A.J. Ouellette for the playoffs.
Saskatchewan has clinched a post-season berth. The only remaining question pertains to where the Roughriders will finish in the West Division standings and the site of Saskatchewan’s opening-round playoff game.
A victory over Edmonton would give the Roughriders third place. The Green and White would then oppose the host B.C. Lions in the Western Semi-Final on Oct. 31 in Vancouver.
In the event of an Elks win on Saturday, the defending Grey Cup champions would be fourth and cross over into the East Division for the post-season. The Toronto Argonauts are to play host to the Eastern Semi-Final on Halloween.
Edmonton (13-4) has secured first in the West. B.C. (10-7) is set at second, followed by Saskatchewan (9-8), the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-9) and Calgary Stampeders (9-9). Winnipeg's 34-10 victory in B.C. on Friday night eliminated Calgary from playoff contention.
SCHAGER SUITING UP
The Roughriders’ 2026 home finale has necessitated at least one road trip.
Brayden Schager’s parents travelled from Dallas to Regina on Friday in order to attend Saturday’s game, in which their 24-year-old son is expected to receive his first regular-season snaps as a professional football player.
Takeoffs and landings are routine for Scott Schager and his wife, Ginger Allen. They attended every one of Brayden’s college football games — quite a feat when you consider that he played at the University of Hawaii.
Schager’s parents also attended both the Roughriders’ 2026 pre-season games, which were held in Calgary and Saskatoon.
“Anytime that I’m playing, it’s hard for them not to be here, so they’ll be here,” Schager said. “That’s awesome.”
When Schager last played for the Roughriders, he threw a three-yard, game-winning touchdown pass to Daniel Wiebe in the final minute of a May 23 pre-season contest at Saskatoon’s Griffith’s Stadium. The TD propelled Saskatchewan to a 31-27 victory over Winnipeg.
Schager has spent the entire regular season on the Roughriders’ reserve roster. Quarterbacks Trevor Harris, Jack Coan and Tommy Stevens have dressed for the first 17 games.
Harris is being rested for the playoffs, so Coan will get the start. Schager is also expected to see some duty behind centre. Ditto for Stevens, who is the Roughriders’ short-yardage specialist.
“I love playing football,” Schager said. “That’s one of my favourite things to do.
“Just being out there with all the guys (in the pre-season) and having fun and being able to perform a little bit was awesome.
“I’ve missed that, so if I get my chance to play, I’ll be ready for it. I’m just excited about the opportunity.”
Schager is about to become the first Roughriders quarterback to wear No. 10 in a regular-season game since Lloyd Patterson, on Nov. 4, 1979 in Calgary.
A quarterback wearing No. 10 has not thrown a pass for Saskatchewan since Oct. 14, 1979, when Patterson got the start for a home game against Edmonton before Danny Sanders took over to begin the second quarter for the Ron Lancaster-coached Roughriders on The Little General’s 41st birthday.
Sanders guided Saskatchewan to a 26-25 upset victory over an Edmonton side that would soon win its second of five consecutive Grey Cups. The Roughriders were 0-12 before upending Edmonton.
EXTRA POINTS
• Coan, Jackson and right tackle Jaison Williams will all make their first CFL starts on Saturday. They increase the Roughriders’ total of starters to 46 this season. The CFL debuts of Schager and Jackson give Saskatchewan 71 active-roster players in 2026 — and 2,186 all-time. Schager will become the 186th quarterback to dress for a regular-season or playoff game.
• DaMarcus Fields is poised to sit out a game for the first time since joining the Roughriders in 2024. With Fields nursing a hamstring injury, Jonathan Edouard will start at defensive halfback. Fields had made 57 consecutive starts, including playoff and Grey Cup competition.
• The last 20 touchdowns scored against Saskatchewan have been the result of passes. The 20 majors have been scored over seven games. Saskatchewan has not allowed a rushing TD since B.C.’s Zander Horvath scored from one yard out on Aug. 23 at BC Place Stadium.