The Saskatchewan Roughriders have re-signed Canadian defensive back Nelson Lokombo, who was a pending free agent. According to 3DownNation reporter John Hodge, it’s a one-year deal for the 2026 season.
The 26-year-old played 11 regular-season games in 2025, making 10 starts at safety at one start at boundary cornerback. He recorded 21 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, and one interception.
The five-foot-eleven, 190-pound defender was originally the second overall pick in the 2021 CFL Draft out of the University of Saskatchewan, though he missed his entire rookie year due to injury.
Lokombo has played 52 regular-season CFL games and made 83 defensive tackles, eight special teams tackles, two forced fumbles, one sack, and one interception.
The native of Abbotsford, B.C. won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2019, which is awarded annually to the top defensive player in U Sports football. He was also named a Canada West all-star and a first-team U Sports All-Canadian.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders finished first in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 12-6 record, finishing first in the West Division for the first time since 2019. The team went on to defeat the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg, marking the team’s first championship in 12 years. Trevor Harris went 11-5 as a starter, throwing for 4,549 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
The Roughriders ranked second in net offence, second in net defence, and tied for third with a turnover differential of plus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was A.J. Ouellette with 1,222 yards, leading receiver was KeeSean Johnson with 1,159 yards, and leading tackler was A.J. Allen with 91 tackles. Saskatchewan finished second in attendance with average crowds of 28,427, which was a 2.7 percent increase from the previous year.
