The Montreal Alouettes released wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr., defensive lineman Kori Roberson Jr., and kicker Lewis Ward on Monday, according to the CFL Transactions page.
Austin Watkins Jr. is six foot three and weighs 210 pounds. The 28-year-old from Fort Myers, Florida, signed with the Montreal Alouettes on December 15, 2025. In 2026, Watkins Jr. made five catches for 54 yards in two preseason games. He spent four weeks on the practice squad.
The San Francisco 49ers signed Watkins Jr. as an undrafted free agent on May 14, 2021. He spent the season on the practice squad. Next, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 31, 2022, but was released on May 16, 2022.
Then, Watkins Jr. signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on August 7, 2022. The Roughriders released him on August 18, 2022. The Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL) signed Watkins Jr. on October 22, 2022. The Bandits became the Memphis Showboats, and they traded him to the Birmingham Stallions on January 11, 2023.
In 2023, Watkins Jr. made 16 catches for 197 yards and one touchdown in seven games. In the 2023 USFL playoffs, Watkins Jr. appeared in two games as the Stallions won their second USFL championship over the Pittsburgh Maulers.
The Stallions released Watkins Jr. on July 22, 2023. In 2023, Watkins Jr. had 16 catches for 257 yards and two touchdowns in four preseason games. He spent the season on the practice squad.
The Browns released him on November 13, 2023, and he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on January 18, 2024. In 2024, Watkins Jr. made four catches for 33 yards in three preseason games. The Eagles released him on August 27, 2024. Watkins Jr. re-signed with the Birmingham Stallions on October 30, 2024. In 2025, made two catches for 13 yards in four games. The Stallions released him on May 13, 2025.
Collegiately, Watkins Jr. played two seasons at Dodge City Community College (2016-17) with 62 catches for 706 yards, five touchdowns, six carries for 22 yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 19 games for the Conquistadors.
Next, he transferred to the University of Alabama-Birmingham (2018-20) with 98 catches for 1,642 yards, nine touchdowns, one carry for -1 yard, and two tackles (2 solos) in 25 games for the Blazers.
Kori Roberson Jr. is six foot three and weighs 303 pounds. The 25-year-old from Houston, Texas, made one tackle in one preseason game. In 2026, he made one tackle against the Edmonton Elks in Week 3.
Collegiately, Roberson Jr. played three seasons at Oklahoma (2019-21) with 29 tackles (10 solos, 19 assists), seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one pass breakup in 26 games for the Sooners.
Then, he transferred to SMU (2023-24) with 53 tackles (26 solos, 27 assists), six tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions for 11 yards, one touchdown, and six pass breakups in 26 games for the Mustangs. In 2024, he made 24 tackles (10 solos, 14 assists), one tackle for loss, one sack, one interception for -5 yards, and four pass breakups in 13 games. He was named an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2024.
Lewis Ward is five foot seven and weighs 176 pounds. The 33-year-old from Kingston, Ontario, signed with the Montreal Alouettes on June 16, 2026, and was placed on the practice squad.
The Ottawa Redblacks signed Ward as an undrafted free agent on January 3, 2018. In his rookie year, he was named a CFL East All-Star and a CFL All-Star in 2018 after making 51 of 52 field goals (98.1%), with a long of 52 yards, and made 16 extra points in 18 games. He was named CFL Most Outstanding Rookie and CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2018.
In 2023, Ward made 34 of 40 field goals (85%), with a long of 54 yards, and made 21 extra points in 13 games before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. In six seasons in Ottawa, Ward made 255 of 289 field goals (88.2%) with a long of 56 yards and made 105 of 113 extra points in 95 games.
In 2024, made 58 of 66 field goals (87.9%) with a long of 54 yards and made 22 of 24 extra points in 18 games. The Redblacks re-signed Ward on October 8, 2024. In seven seasons with Ottawa, Ward has made 300 of 347 field goals (86.5%), with a long of 56 yards, and made 140 of 156 extra points.
In 2025, Ward made 35 of 46 field goals (76.1%) with a long of 50 yards, and made 33 of 35 extra points in 18 games. The Redblacks released him on April 16, 2026.
Collegiately, Ward played six seasons at the University of Ottawa (2012-17), making 89 of 113 field goals (79%), with a long of 51 yards, and made 135 extra points. He was the University of Ottawa All-Time Scoring Leader (412), U Sports third in all-time scoring (89), and second in all-time field goals made (89). Ward was named an OUA Second Team All-Star in 2016.
