The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed defensive back Trumaine Washington and released running back Rodney Smith on Tuesday.
Trumaine Washington is five foot nine and weighs 185 pounds. The 28-year-old from Miami, Florida, was released by the Calgary Stampeders on February 6, 2023, and signed with the Orlando Guardians (XFL). Washington made nine tackles (7 solo, 2 assists) in eight games for Orlando. Last season, Washington made 42 tackles, two interceptions, and one touchdown in 12 games for the Stampeders. In 2021, he played for the Edmonton Elks with 56 tackles, five interceptions, one touchdown, and one forced fumble in 14 games.
In addition, Washington played two seasons for the Toronto Argonauts (2018-19) with 56 tackles, five interceptions, one touchdown, and one forced fumble in 25 games.
Collegiately, Washington played four seasons at Louisville (2014-17) with 142 tackles (117 solo, 25 assists), nine tackles for loss, four sacks, ten interceptions with two of them returned for touchdowns, 30 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 45 games, of which 34 were starts for the Cardinals.
Rodney Smith is five foot eleven and weighs 200 pounds. The 27-year-old from Jonesboro, Georgia, was on the Roughriders practice squad. He played one preseason game for the Roughriders in 2023 against the B.C. Lions with seven carries for 27 yards, and one catch for four yards before he was released on June 4th.
Before Saskatchewan, Smith was on the Detroit Lions and Tennessee Titans practice squads in 2021. Rodney Smith signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
He played two seasons in Carolina (2020-21) with 41 carries for 156 yards, one touchdown, and 14 catches for 107 yards in nine games. Afterward, he returned to the Panthers’ practice squad before being released.
Collegiately, Smith played five seasons at the University of Minnesota (2015-19) with 879 carries for 4,122 yards, 29 touchdowns, 65 catches for 521 yards, 30 kick returns for 798 yards, and two touchdowns in 52 games.
His 879 carries are the third most in school history, and his 4,122 rushing yards are ranked second all-time in school history. Furthermore, his 5,441 all-purpose yards rank first in school history.
In addition, he is a two-time Bruce Smith Award for Outstanding Player of the Year (2016, 2019), 2016 Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP, All-Big Ten Third Team in 2016, and All-Big Ten Second Team in 2019.
