Taylor Shire
Regina Leader-Post
Just as the NFL season kicks off south of the border, KeeSean Johnson has already crossed off a goal on his annual checklist north of the border.
On Sunday in the Labour Day Classic, the Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver reached the 1,000-yard milestone in the 32-26 overtime win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“It’s kind of some of your personal goals that you set for yourself coming in the season,” Johnson, who now has 1,022 receiving yards in 12 games this year, said after practice on Wednesday as the Roughriders (8-4) prepare to visit Winnipeg (6-6) on Saturday (2 p.m.) in the rematch. “It’s obviously a goal that you want to cross, so it’s something that’s good but it felt even better to get the win with it.”
While the Blue Bombers were providing heavy coverage on Johnson throughout the game, the 29-year-old receiver, who now ranks fourth in the CFL in receiving yards, caught four passes for 32 yards while making a big play away from the ball in the fourth quarter as he threw a key block to help short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens get into the end zone.
“When you have to do it, you’ve got to put full effort into it,” said Johnson, who turns 30 next month. “As long as it helps my team get to where we need to get, I’m willing to do it.”
And that’s a mindset Johnson has maintained ever since joining the Roughriders in February 2024 after several years in the NFL.
After starring for the Fresno State Bulldogs from 2014-18, where he set the school’s all-time receptions and receiving yards record, the California native was drafted by the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round in 2019.
The 6-foot-1, 201-pounder played 18 games over the next two seasons for the club — racking up 36 catches for 360 yards — before stints in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Atlanta and Buffalo.
Johnson then made his way to the CFL and was able to crack the Roughriders’ roster in his first year — recording 746 receiving yards in 12 games in rookie season.
“That’s obviously always the goal is just to be a playmaker no matter where it is,” said Johnson, who has seven touchdowns this year, which is already two more than last year. “You work for the opportunity and let the opportunity present itself and go out there and make the most of it and try to be the playmaker that you can be and that you know you are with the opportunity that is presented.
“I feel like I was blessed to get an opportunity up here from the coaches, and I kind of just try to put my best foot forward each time.”
After a strong first season, Johnson took an even bigger step forward in 2025, as he racked up 1,159 receiving yards in 16 games last year before being named a CFL all-star.
Along with his impressive yardage totals, he’s become one of the CFL’s most dependable receivers as he’s on his way to a second straight season leading the league in second-down conversions.
After setting the pace with 39 last year, he’s already up to 29 this season. Johnson is also on his way to topping last year’s receptions total of 86 as he enters this week’s game with 81.
“We had a pretty good idea that this was going to be the outcome of his career up here with us,” said Roughriders head coach Corey Mace. “And I would love to say he’s exceeded it but there’s still the rest of the season for him to put a stamp on what he’s capable of.
“There’s a few guys in this league that everybody identifies as a top receiver, and yet they still produce. KeeSean is one of those guys.”
Kicking situation
As dependable as Johnson is in the receiving corps, Saskatchewan’s kicking game has been anything but as rookie Alex Hale ranks third last in the CFL with a 75 per cent success rate.
Hale, who had a rough start to the year before making nine straight kicks, made one of his three attempts on Sunday in the Labour Day Classic, which increased the volume of those fans hoping for a change at the position.
“It’s kind of one of those things where, similar to last year (with Brett Lauther) and even earlier this year with Alex, you put him out there and you push through,” Mace said after practice on Wednesday. “You see what the week looks like. If they have a good week and you have some confidence.
“Ultimately, like anybody in that spot, you’ve got to get the job done. We’ll look at it throughout the week, see how that goes, and we’ll make a decision at the end of the week.”
The Roughriders, who also have rookie Dawson Hodge on the practice roster, didn’t run any field goal drills during their workout on Wednesday. The Green and White, who are holding practices at Leibel Field this week as the Foo Fighters concert set up is underway at Mosaic Stadium, will hold a closed practice Thursday before departing to Winnipeg on Friday.
Injury report
Receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker (knee; limited) made a brief appearance on the field for the team stretch before leaving as team drills got underway. His return is expected in the coming weeks.
Running back A.J. Ouellette (knee; full participant) continued to get more work with the offence as he nears a return to the lineup, which could even happen this week.
“(Friday’s) practice will be pretty telling for us,” said Mace. “But he’s been out at practice the last little bit.
“Certainly, taking the reigns off every day that we’re out here with him. We’ll make that decision. This is a big game for us. They all are, but we’ll make sure that we make the right decision for the team.”
Meanwhile, right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick (hip) was limited while receiver Daniel Wiebe (head) didn’t practice. Shemar Bridges ran with the starting receivers in place of Wiebe on Wednesday.
Linebacker Josh Woods (ankle; one-game injured list) missed Day 1 of practice as Aubrey Miller Jr. expected to make his second straight start. Linebacker Nick Wiebe (knee) also continued to sit out.
