The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed wide receiver Josh Ali to the practice squad and released running back Mario Anderson Jr. from the practice squad on Monday.
Josh Ali is six foot and weighs 191 pounds. The 26-year-old from Miami, Florida, signed with the Calgary Stampeders on February 19, 2025. In 2025, he made one catch for three yards in two preseason games. The Stampeders released him on May 31, 2025.
Ali attended the Atlanta Falcons rookie minicamp in 2022. After a successful tryout, he signed with Atlanta on August 31, 2022. In 2022, he played two regular season games.
In 2023, he made six catches for 65 yards in three preseason games, and in 2024 he made one catch for 19 yards in three preseason games. The Falcons released him on August 25, 2024.
Collegiately, Ali played five seasons at Kentucky (2017-21) making 131 catches for 1,447 yards, eight touchdowns, six carries for 34 yards, one touchdown, 29 punt returns for 283 yards, and one touchdown in 55 games, of which 34 were starts for the Wildcats.
Mario Anderson Jr. is five foot nine and weighs 208 pounds. The 24-year-old from Summerville, South Carolina, went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Anderson Jr. on April 29, 2025. In 2025, he had 14 carries for 37 yards, one touchdown, and three catches for 35 yards in two preseason games. He spent three weeks on the practice squad.
Collegiately, Anderson Jr. played three seasons at Newberry College (2020-22) with 513 carries for 3,301 yards, 35 touchdowns, 21 catches for 135 yards, and two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) in 29 games for the Wolves. He was named a two-time First Team All-South Atlantic Conference, First Team Division II All-American by AP, Second Team All-American, and a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy.
Next, Anderson Jr. transferred to South Carolina in 2023 with 143 carries for 707 yards, three touchdowns, 22 catches for 153 yards, and one touchdown in 12 games for the Gamecocks.
Then, he transferred to Memphis in 2024 with 236 carries for 1,362 yards, 18 touchdowns, 52 catches for 312 yards, three touchdowns, and one kick return for 14 yards in 13 games for the Tigers. He was a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, which recognizes outstanding performance on the field, in the community, and the classroom.
