As the Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in CFL pres-season action in Saskatoon, SK, May 23, 2026. Photo Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards
SASKATOON — Last week, Johnny Johnson III became the third Johnson on the 2026 Saskatchewan Roughriders’ receiving corps.
He was the first to score a touchdown during Saturday’s CFL pre-season game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Griffiths Stadium.
Just four days after signing with Saskatchewan, Johnson III caught a 12-yard TD pass from Jack Coan to give the Roughriders their first lead in a game they ultimately won 31-27.
“The last few days have been fast-moving … definitely chaotic,” Johnson III, 27, said after catching four passes for 64 yards.
“I’m missing my wife and missing my son, but I’m out here trying to ball and trying to provide for them.
“I’m trying to have a good time at the same time and play some football.”
The former University of Oregon Ducks standout missed all of last season due to a dislocated elbow. Before suffering the injury, he had spent time with the Houston Texans dating back to when he signed with them as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
“This opportunity came and I jumped at it,” said Johnson III, who is from Chandler, Ariz.
“It just feels good to be back out here and to be in the end zone.”
Coan was pleased to play a role in Johnson III’s first touchdown since the 2024 NFL pre-season.
“He’s a stud,” the third-year Roughriders pivot said. “He barely knew the playbook, and he was already making a bunch of catches out on the field.
“I actually played against him in college (with the University of Wisconsin Badgers in the 2020 Rose Bowl). I lost to him, so there was some bad blood there.
“It was good to be out there and be able to throw him a touchdown.”
Johnson III had not registered a major since Aug. 24, 2024, when he hauled in a Tim Boyle aerial for a 10-yard Texans score against the Los Angeles Rams in a pre-season contest.
As a Roughrider, Johnson III is the newest member of a receiving corps that includes 2025 All-CFL selection KeeSean Johnson and newcomer Jaylen Johnson.
KeeSean had a 48-yard reception on Saturday during the Roughriders’ first offensive series — a touchdown drive. Jaylen caught two passes for 21 yards.
Johnson III’s third reception was a 20-yarder that moved the chains on the Roughriders’ penultimate possession. That drive concluded with a 35-yard Jonathan Kim field goal that reduced Winnipeg’s advantage to 27-24 with 2:30 remaining in Saturday’s fourth quarter.
On the Roughriders’ final drive, Johnson III caught a nine-yarder that took him to the Blue Bombers’ four-yard line. After a one-yard quarterback sneak by Brayden Schager, Daniel Wiebe caught the game-winning TD pass with 42.9 seconds left.
After completing the pre-season with a 1-1 record, the Roughriders return to the practice field on Monday. The team’s first Mosaic Stadium-based practice of 2026 is to begin at 9:30 a.m.
Training camp continues throughout this week. The conclusion of Friday’s practice will mark the beginning of a bye week for the Green and White.
Saskatchewan will be idle for Week 1 of the regular season. The Roughriders open their 2026 schedule on June 13 against the B.C. Lions in a rematch of last year’s Western Final.
Also on June 13 at Mosaic Stadium, the Roughriders will unveil their 2025 Grey Cup championship banner.
Tickets for the first regular-season game are AVAILABLE HERE.
