The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed defensive end Chico Bennett Jr. to the practice squad and released punter James Evans on Monday.
Chico Bennett Jr. is six foot four and weighs 256 pounds. A native of Ashburn, Virginia, Bennett Jr. attended the Philadelphia Eagles rookie minicamp in 2025.
Collegiately, Bennett Jr. played two seasons at Georgia Tech (2019-20) with 31 tackles (19 solos, 12 assists) and two tackles for loss in 15 games for the Yellow Jackets. Then, he transferred to Virginia (2022-24) with 107 tackles (52 solos, 55 assists), 21 tackles for loss, eight sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 33 games for the Cavaliers.
In 2024, he made 39 tackles (20 solos, 19 assists), eight tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 12 games. Bennett Jr. was named an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2022 and twice made the All-ACC Academic Team.
James Evans is six foot one and weighs 217 pounds. The 24-year-old from Auckland, New Zealand, was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the second round (17th pick) of the 2025 CFL Global Draft. In 2025, he punted the ball six times for 272 yards (45.3 AVG) with a long of 56 yards in two preseason games. He was released on June 1, 2025. The Roughriders re-signed Evans to the practice squad on June 3, 2025.
Collegiately, Evans played four seasons at Indiana (2021-24) punting the ball 246 times for 10,771 yards (43.8 AVG), with a long of 73 yards, 12 touchbacks, 66 fair catches, 74 from inside the 20-yard line, 69 from 50-plus yards, and one carry for -23 yards in 50 games for the Hoosiers. He was named a two-time All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and Third Team All-Big Ten in 2023.
In 2024, he punted the ball 36 times for 1,528 yards (42.4 AVG), with a long of 58 yards, 12 fair catches, 11 from inside the 20-yard line, eight from 50-plus yards, and one carry for -23 yards in 13 games.
He played rugby and squash in high school and was trained under Nathan Chapman and John Smith at Prokick Australia, a training ground for punters and kickers in Melbourne.
