Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
The B.C. Lions have signed American offensive lineman Joshua Coker, the team announced on Monday.
3DownNation reported in January that Coker suffered a “substantial knee injury” late in 2025, which contributed to him going unsigned during the league’s free-agent frenzy in February.
The six-foot-two, 336-pound blocker spent five seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, dressing for 43 regular-season games and making 29 starts. In 2025, he made 14 starts at right tackle and one start at left tackle.
The 28-year-old played collegiately at Rhodes College, where he was named first-team All-Southern Athletic Association and first-team All-American Football Coaches Association as a senior. He had a stint with the Houston Texans in 2019 as an undrafted free agent.
The B.C. Lions recently selected North Dakota receiver Nate DeMontagnac with their first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, adding to a group of Canadians that already included Justin McInnis and Jevon Cottoy. The team’s other major offseason additions include defensive lineman Casey Sayles and linebacker Darnell Sankey.
All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. B.C. will play its first preseason game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, May 23 and its first regular-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, June 13.
In 2025, B.C. 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.
