Photo: Paul Yates/B.C. Lions
The B.C. Lions have signed three American players to their training camp roster, including receiver Kaiden Robinson, offensive lineman Brock Bethea, and defensive lineman A.J. Pena.
Robinson caught 147 passes for 2,614 yards and 14 touchdowns over 34 collegiate games at Appalachian State, earning a first-team All-Sun Belt selection as a senior. The six-foot-two, 205-pound target was previously under contract with B.C., though he was released to recently attend rookie minicamp with the New York Jets.
Bethea played 39 collegiate games at Rhode Island at left and right tackle. The six-foot-five, 305-pound blocker was named second-team All-CAA by Phil Steele in 2024.
Pena played 50 games at Rhode Island, where he was named an FCS All-American as a sophomore. The six-foot-two, 243-pound defender made 72 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble as a senior.
The Lions also made 12 cuts, including American quarterback Thomas Rittenhouse, American running back Tony Jones Jr., American receivers Marquez Callaway and Anthony Sambucci, American offensive lineman Logan Zshcernitz, American defensive lineman Buddha Peletti, Canadian linebacker Dawson Pierre, and American defensive backs Adonis Alexander, Jhamell Blenman, Duron Lowe, Joshua Pickett, and Alex Teubner.
All nine CFL teams are required to trim their rosters to 75 players (not including draft picks) by 11:59 p.m. local time on Tuesday, May 12.
The B.C. Lions opened training camp on May 10. The team will play its first preseason game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, May 23 and its second preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders on Friday, May 29. Final roster cuts are due on Saturday, May 30, after which the Lions will play its first regular-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, June 13.
B.C. recently selected North Dakota receiver Nate DeMontagnac with their first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, adding to a group of Canadian targets that already included Justin McInnis and Jevon Cottoy. The team’s other major offseason additions include defensive lineman Casey Sayles and linebacker Darnell Sankey.
In 2025, the Lions finished second in the West Division standings with an 11-7 record. They beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final but lost the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Franchise quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions to be named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.
