Fans of the Los Angeles Rams have bittersweet memories of former running back Darrell Henderson Jr.. On the positive side, he was an explosive change of pace road runner who would have defensive perimeters throwing fits. But on the negative side, he struggled to stay healthy. And so it was that one of the more productive players was released amidst a 2022 season that was going nowhere.
Now, Darrell Henderson Jr. has found a new lease on his football dream by signing up to compete for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League.
Super Bowl champion Darrell Henderson Jr. joins Saskatchewan Roughriders after Jermarcus Hardrick pitch.
💻 https://t.co/1bvcEmkwY0#Saskatchewan #RIders #CFL pic.twitter.com/Fbaf8y3xGi
— Dave Thomas (@_sportsdave) May 8, 2026
The CFL is made up of nine teams, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders are one of the most competitive teams in the league. In 2025, they topped all competition by winning 12 e of 17 games. And if their roster is reformed around former NFL players like Darrell Henderson, they will be competitive in 2026 as well.
Darrell Henderson's dream to play football never died
Darrell Henderson Jr. is a five-year NFL veteran who played for the LA Rams from 2019 through 2023. Over that period, he rushed for 1,834 yards and 15 touchdowns. While he averaged 4.2 yards per carry, he only averaged 88 carries and just under 11 games per NFL season.
He peaked in 2021, helping Los Angeles to and through a Super Bowl LVI victory. But he paid the price the following year, struggling to suit up for seven games, 70 carries, and 283 rushing yards before being released.
He did return for a short stint in 2023, but he was not the same. He was released for the second and final time. Now, he hopes to rekindle his football career in the CFL.
“I took a little time off to be with my family and my kids. (In) The NFL, you take a bunch of hits, and I felt like I needed that time off. The only thing it did was rejuvenate me and motivate me more to get back into it.” - Darrell Henderson Jr.
When healthy, Henderson was a dangerous offensive weapon. But as was the case with several players in 2022, durability limited his impact. And it didn't help that Henderson stood 5-foot-9 and weighed 208 pounds. He was sturdy enough to take on tacklers head-on, a few times. But his body did not stand up to the type of punishment handed out in the NFL.
Perhaps the wear and tear in the CFL will be more to his liking. He has always been a talented running back. Not that he is rejuvenated, perhaps he can find a more consistent way to manage his availability.
As always, thanks for reading.
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