The Saskatchewan Roughriders placed wide receiver Malik Knowles and defensive end Ty French on the retired list on Tuesday according to the CFL Transactions page.
Malik Knowles is six foot two and weighs 196 pounds. The 25-year-old from Lynwood, California, signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on December 16, 2025.
The Minnesota Vikings signed Knowles as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. He was placed on the non-football injury list on July 25, 2023. In 2024, he made one catch for one yard and two kick returns for 43 yards in two preseason games. The Vikings released him on September 3, 2024.
The Green Bay Packers signed Knowles to the practice squad on October 16, 2024. The Packers released him on November 30, 2024. The San Francisco 49ers signed Knowles on June 3, 2025. In 2025, he played in one preseason game with no stats. The 49ers released him on August 24, 2025.
Collegiately, Knowles spent four seasons at Kansas State (2019-22) with 127 catches for 1,867 yards, 14 touchdowns, 36 carries for 440 yards, four rushing touchdowns, completed one pass for 11 yards, 61 kick returns for 1,691 yards, three touchdowns, and three tackles (3 solos) in 51 games for the Wildcats.
In 2022, Knowles had a career-high 48 catches for 725 yards, two touchdowns, eight carries for 164 yards, three rushing touchdowns, completed one pass for 11 yards, 23 kick returns for 592 yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 14 games. He was named First Team All-Big 12, Second Team All-Big 12, Second Team All-American by CBS Sports, Honorable Mention Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year, and Honorable Mention All-Big 12.
Ty French is six foot one and weighs 235 pounds. The 25-year-old from Moultrie, Georgia, attended the San Fransico 49ers rookie minicamp in 2025. The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed French on February 27, 2026.
Collegiately, French spent five seasons at Gardner-Webb University (2020-24) with 240 tackles (126 solos, 114 assists), 61 tackles for loss, 34.5 sacks, one interception for 10 yards, seven pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one blocked kick, two kick returns for 18 yards, and one carry for 15 yards in 45 games for the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
In 2022, he had a career-high 75 tackles (37 solos, 38 assists), 16 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, one interception for 10 yards, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble in 14 games. He was a finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan National Defensive Player of the Year Award, the Ted Hendricks Award, and the first Runnin’ Bulldog to be voted Big South Defensive Player of the Year since 2008.
He was also named a two-time First Team All-Big South Conference in 2021 and 2023, Freshman and Sophomore All-American honors by HERO Sports, and the Big South Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2021.
Then, he transferred to West Virginia in 2024 with 22 tackles (12 solos, 10 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup in 13 games for the Mountaineers.
