The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed quarterback Brayden Schager, running back Marcus Majors Jr., and linebackers Tuasivi Nomura and Alphonzo Tuputala to the practice squad on Tuesday. The Roughriders also announced they released linebacker Chris Russell Jr. and defensive back Kosi Onyeka.
Brayden Schager is six foot three and weighs 220 pounds. The 22-year-old from Dallas, Texas, attended the Baltimore Ravens rookie minicamp in 2025.
Collegiately, Schager played four seasons at Hawaii (2021-24), completing 851 of 1,435 passes (59%) for 9,096 yards, 60 touchdowns, 42 interceptions, 298 carries for 319 yards, eight rushing touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in 42 games for the Rainbow Warriors.
In 2023, he ranked second among all FBS quarterbacks with nine passes for 50+ yards, and threw for 300+ yards six times. He became the eighth quarterback in program history to post six 300+ passing yards in a single game. Schager was an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention in 2023, a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy in 2024, and named to the preseason watch lists for the Maxwell Award, the Manning Award, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Marcus Majors Jr. is six foot and weighs 220 pounds. The 25-year-old from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2025. He attended training camp and was released on August 13, 2025.
Collegiately, Majors Jr. played five seasons at Oklahoma (2019-23) with 194 carries for 833 yards, eight rushing touchdowns, completed one pass for -2 yards, 23 catches for 177 yards, two touchdowns, one kick return for 13 yards, and four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist) in 35 games for the Sooners.
Then, he transferred to Minnesota in 2024 with 78 carries for 352 yards, three rushing touchdowns, 20 catches for 144 yards, and one touchdown in 12 games for the Golden Gophers.
Tuasivi Nomura is six foot one and weighs 221 pounds. A native of Corona, California, Nomura signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2025. He attended training camp and was released on August 3, 2025.
Collegiately, Nomura played two seasons at USC (2019-22) with 35 tackles (16 solos, 19 assists), two tackles for loss, and one pass breakup in 33 games for the Trojans. Then, he transferred to Fresno State (2023-24) with 123 tackles (73 solos, 50 assists), nine tackles for loss, one sack, four pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 20 games for the Bulldogs.
He was named First Team All-Mountain West in 2024. He had four double-digit tackles in his final season, including a career-high 18 tackles against Air Force.
Alphonzo Tuputala is six foot two and weighs 203 pounds. A native of Federal Way, Washington, Tuputala attended the Seattle Seahawks rookie minicamp in 2025 and signed with them on August 12, 2025. In 2025, he made seven tackles (4 solos, 3 assists) and half a sack in two preseason games. The Seahawks released him on August 26, 2025.
Collegiately, Tuputala played six seasons at Washington (2019-24) with 234 tackles (123 solos, 111 assists), 13.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, one interception for 76 yards, three pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 53 games for the Huskies.
In 2024, he started 14 games with 81 tackles (43 solos, 38 assists), four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one pass breakup, helping Washington appear in the CFP National Championship Game against Michigan. He was named Fourth Team All-PAC 12 by Phil Steele, a team captain, and received the Guy Flaherty Award, given to the University of Washington football team’s most inspirational player.
Chris Russell Jr. is six foot one and weighs 235 pounds. The 24-year-old from Dyersburg, Tennessee, signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on April 1, 2025. Russell Jr. attended training camp and was released on May 11, 2025. The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Russell Jr. to the practice squad on August 28, 2025.
The Green Bay Packers signed Russell Jr. as an undrafted free agent on August 14, 2024. In 2024, he made eight tackles (6 solos, 2 assists) in two preseason games. The Packers released him on October 29, 2024.
The Memphis Showboats signed Russell Jr. on January 20, 2025. He attended training camp before Memphis released him on March 20, 2025.
Collegiately, Russell Jr. played five seasons at Texas A&M (2019-23) with 112 tackles (59 solos, 53 assists), 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one interception for 16 yards, one touchdown, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one blocked kick, one punt return for 16 yards, and one touchdown in 58 games for the Aggies.
Kosi Onyeka is six foot and weighs 195 pounds. The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ontario, re-signed with the Roughriders on January 31, 2025. In 2025, Onyeka made 10 tackles and 10 tackles on special teams in seven games.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Onyeka on June 17, 2022. In 2022, he made one tackle and one tackle on special teams in two games. In 2023, he made one tackle and 17 tackles on special teams in 15 games. In 2024, he made one tackle, seven tackles on special teams, and one forced fumble in ten games.
Collegiately, Onyeka played four seasons at the University of Guelph (2017-19, 2021) with 64 tackles (35 solos, 29 assists), 3.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one interception, three pass breakups, one carry for 12 yards, and two punt returns for 17 yards in 25 games for the Gryphons. He was named to the OUA All-Rookie Team in 2017.
