Riders resign linebacker Jameer Thurman to 2-year extension

A Saskatchewan Roughriders helmet can be seen before preseason CFL football action in Regina, Monday, May 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

A key piece of the Saskatchewan Roughriders defence will be back with the green and white for the next two seasons.

The team announced Monday that Jameer Thurman signed a two-year extension keeping him with the Riders through the 2026 season.

Thurman, 29, appeared in 17 games for the Riders last season, registering 76 defensive tackles, three tackles for a loss, two special teams’ tackles, one sack and two interceptions including a 28 yard pick six in Week 3.

“As captain of the defence, Thurman has been instrumental in several game-winning plays, including his critical forced fumble late in Week 7 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, which allowed the Roughriders to shut down a two-possession game with two and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter, and a late fourth-quarter interception in Week 16 against the Calgary Stampeders. He also started in both post-season games tallying an additional 13 defensive tackles,” the Riders said on Monday.

Thurman came to the Riders via free agency after spending the 2023 season in Hamilton, before that he played four seasons as a member of the Calgary Stampeders, winning a Grey Cup in 2018.

• Download the all new CTV News app for local breaking news alerts on your smartphone

Thurman also signed with the NFL’s Chicago Bears in January of 2019 and made 16 pre-season tackles before being released by the team before the start of the 2019 NFL season.

The 2025 CFL schedule is expected to be released in the near future.