Photo courtesy: Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Josh Woods believes changing colours has brought increased attention to his level of play in the Canadian Football League.
Following five seasons with the B.C. Lions to start his CFL career, the 28-year-old signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders during free agency in February. In the process, he changed from orange and black to green and white.
“It is kind of funny, even some guys on the other teams are like, ‘You’re playing really good this year.’ Honestly, it’s just the colours,” Woods said on the 620 CKRM 5th Quarter postgame show.
“I’ve been playing like this, I’ve been playing the same game for years. Literally, me just being in green, people are looking at it different.”
Through five games, the Ontario, Calif. native has 27 defensive tackles, two interceptions, and one touchdown. He’s on pace to post the most productive season in his three-down league career and credited Joshua Bell’s defensive system for his hot start in Riderville.
“I’m in a defence where I can play free. The coaches instill the confidence in me to ball and play free. I don’t have to worry about so many other things that I feel like I had to worry about before,” Woods said.
“Having guys like Jameer Thurman, Marcus Sayles, James Vaughters, these vets around me that trust me to play however I want to play and they’ll make me right, they’re going to make plays. We all trust each other.”
The six-foot-two, 234-pound defender had a promising start to the 2024 season with B.C., but suffered a major knee injury that ended his year. He felt like he wasn’t at 100 percent with the Lions in 2025, though it seems No. 2 is back to full health as evidenced by his 107-yard pick-six against Hamilton in Week 6.
“Honestly, I do have a chip (on my shoulder),” Woods admitted. “Last year, I was on one leg coming off an ACL. I’m not playing any different than I’ve played in the past few years.”
Woods has suited up for 60 career CFL games, recording 179 defensive tackles, 25 special teams stops, four interceptions, three sacks, and two touchdowns.
Perhaps his best is yet to come as he settles into Saskatchewan’s defence.
The Roughriders (4-1) are currently on a bye week.
