Winnipeg Blue Bombers On July 18, 2011, Lemon was signed to the practice roster of the
Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. He was released by the Blue Bombers on July 21, 2011.
Saskatchewan Roughriders (first stint) Lemon signed with the CFL's
Saskatchewan Roughriders on August 10, 2011. He made his CFL debut on September 11, 2011, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
San Jose SaberCats Lemon was assigned to the
San Jose SaberCats of the
Arena Football League (AFL) on March 11, 2012.
Orlando Predators Lemon was traded to the
Orlando Predators on April 18, 2012. He was reassigned by the Predators on May 8, 2012.
Sioux Falls Storm Lemon signed with the
Sioux Falls Storm of the
Indoor Football League after his release from the Predators.
Edmonton Eskimos (first stint) Lemon spent the
2012 season with the
Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL.
Calgary Stampeders (first stint) Lemon signed with the
Calgary Stampeders of the CFL on June 2, 2013. He played six games in 2013, recording 18 tackles, three quarterback sacks and a fumble recovery. He was on the reserve list for twelve games. Lemon recorded six tackles in the Western Final. He started all 18 games for the Stampeders in 2014, recording 13 sacks, five tackles for a loss and eight forced fumbles (CFL League Record) . He also totaled 31 tackles, a special-teams tackle and an interception. Lemon was named the Defensive Player of the Week for Week 15 when he recorded three tackles, a pair of sacks and a forced fumble in a victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Stampeders won the
102nd Grey Cup against the
Hamilton Tiger-Cats on November 30, 2014. in 2015
Pittsburgh Steelers Lemon agreed to a contract with the
Pittsburgh Steelers of the
National Football League (NFL) on January 20, 2015. He was released by the Steelers on August 3, 2015.
San Francisco 49ers Lemon was signed by the NFL's
San Francisco 49ers on August 8, 2015. He was released by the 49ers on August 31, 2015. He was listed as a
linebacker during his time with the Steelers and 49ers.
Ottawa Redblacks On September 3, 2015, Lemon signed with the
Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL to play as a defensive end for Ottawa. Lemon played in the last half of the season with the Redblacks, contributing five quarterback sacks during the regular season. He was released by the Redblacks on December 4 so he could pursue NFL opportunities.
Saskatchewan Roughriders (second stint) Lemon was signed by the Roughriders on January 15, 2016. Lemon was listed as the third-string defensive end for opening night, effectively confirming rumours that Lemon was unhappy with the Roughriders coaching staff. Following a week 1 defeat Lemon asked to be traded. in 2019
Toronto Argonauts (first stint) After reports that Lemon was not happy in Saskatchewan, Lemon was traded to the
Toronto Argonauts on July 2, 2016, after playing limited reps in only one game for the Roughriders. Lemon and a conditional
2018 CFL draft pick were sent to the Argonauts in exchange for
Mitchell Gale and
Matt Sewell. Lemon played in 16 games for the Argos during the
2016 season and finished tied for second in the CFL with 14 sacks. He was recognized by his peers for his performance and was named a CFL East Division All-Star. On December 1, 2016, Lemon and the Argos agreed on a contract extension which kept him with the 'double-blue' through the 2018 CFL season. Lemon was hampered by injury during 2017, and was the only starter on Toronto's defensive line not to make the
CFL East All Stars list (
Victor Butler,
Dylan Wynn, and
Cleyon Laing all made the list), but Lemon still managed 8 sacks and a forced fumble in 12 games played. During the playoffs, Lemon recorded 3 sacks in a victory over the
Saskatchewan Roughriders. Lemon and the Argos would go on to defeat Lemon's former team, the Stampeders to win the
105th Grey Cup. Lemon played in 5 games for Toronto in 2018, before being traded away. In those games he made 5 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.
BC Lions (first stint) On July 24, 2018, Lemon was traded to the
BC Lions for a negotiation list player. Lemon formed a formidable pass rush tandem with
Odell Willis, and went on to record 10 sacks in 13 games for BC, including two against Toronto in two meetings later that season.
Toronto Argonauts (second stint) After becoming a free agent in February 2019, Lemon signed with Toronto again on a one-year contract. Lemon played in four games for the Argos in 2019, contributing 15 tackles and one quarterback sack.
BC Lions (second stint) in 2022 On August 12, 2019, for the second time in his career, Lemon was traded from Toronto to the
BC Lions in the middle of the season, this time for
Davon Coleman. Lemon's first game back with the Lions saw him record 2 sacks and force a fumble, while also inflicting a season ending injury upon Winnipeg quarterback
Matt Nichols. Lemon recorded 8 sacks in 10 games with the Lions. Lemon was not re-signed by the Lions following the
2019 season and became a free agent on February 11, 2020. The
2020 CFL season was cancelled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Edmonton Football Team / Elks (second stint) On February 3, 2021, Lemon signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Football Team (later renamed the Elks). However, he was released near the end of training camp on July 29, 2021.
Calgary Stampeders (second stint) On July 30, 2021, it was announced that Lemon had signed with the
Calgary Stampeders. Lemon continued his stellar play in the
2021 and
2022 seasons playing in 28 games for the Stamps, and posting 55 defensive tackles, 22 quarterback sacks, and seven forced fumbles. He was named a CFL All-Star following the 2022 season, his first such honour. He was also named the winner of the
Norm Fieldgate Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding defensive player in the
West Division. Following the season Lemon was not re-signed by the Stampeders and became a free agent on February 14, 2023.
BC Lions (third stint) On February 26, 2023, Lemon signed again with the
BC Lions. Lemon was released by the Lions during training camp on May 22, 2023.
Montreal Alouettes On July 23, 2023, Lemon signed with the
Montreal Alouettes. On September 30, 2023, he scored the first touchdown of his career as he returned a fumble 30 yards for the score in the game against the
Ottawa Redblacks. The following week, he recorded the 100th sack of his career, on October 9, 2023, also against the Redblacks, as he sacked
Dustin Crum. Overall, he played in just 13 games, but recorded nine sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one touchdown. In the team's two playoff games, Lemon recorded seven defensive tackles, three sacks, and one fumble recovery as the team advanced to the
110th Grey Cup game. He had three defensive tackles and one sack in that game as the Alouettes defeated the
Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Lemon won his third Grey Cup championship. On December 7, 2023, Lemon signed a one-year contract extension with the Alouettes. He announced his retirement on April 10, 2024. Shortly thereafter, on April 24, 2024, the CFL announced that Lemon had been suspended indefinitely for betting on league games while a member of the Stampeders in 2021. Lemon then unretired, launched an appeal, and returned to the Alouettes. He was allowed to take place in team activities and play in games for the Alouettes until an arbitrator made a decision. He made the opening day roster and played in four games for the Alouettes, recording six defensive tackles and one sack. On July 4, 2024, an independent arbitrator ruled that his suspension would go into effect immediately. He was on the Alouettes' suspended list for the remainder of the season and became a
free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 11, 2025. On July 16, 2025, the league announced that Lemon had been conditionally reinstated and was eligible to sign with any team. As part of the reinstatement, he was required to complete mandatory league education and continue to participate in counselling sessions. He became a
free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 10, 2026. == CFL statistics ==