Devon Bailey has tried to be patient.
The fifth-year CFLer has dressed for all eight of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ games so far this season, but his playing time has been limited mostly to special teams.
That could change Saturday, when the 26-year-old product of Mississauga, Ont., could get extensive time at receiver in place of Caleb Holley when the Roughriders face the B.C. Lions in Vancouver (8 p.m., CKRM, TSN).
Holley was put on the six-game injured list after hurting a leg in Sunday’s 40-27 victory over the Calgary Stampeders. Bailey, fellow national Brian Jones (a recent acquisition from the Toronto Argonauts) and international Kyran Moore (who has been activated off the practice roster) took repetitions in practice with the starting offence this week.
Bailey caught one pass for 11 yards in place of Holley in Sunday’s game, giving him nine catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns in 14 career regular-season games with Saskatchewan. He’s looking for more.
“It’s hard (to be patient),” Bailey said. “It’s tough because I’m surrounded in the (meeting) room by great receivers and I definitely put myself up there with all of them as well.
“To not be where I wanted to be, it’s tough to sit back and wait and wait and wait. But I can’t really think about it. Once the opportunity comes, you’ve just got to grasp it and not let go.”
Bailey began his career with the Edmonton Eskimos, who selected him in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2014 CFL draft out of St. Francis Xavier University.
He spent three seasons with Edmonton, catching 33 passes for 469 yards and two TDs in 39 games. In April of 2017, the 6-foot-5, 202-pounder signed a free-agent contract with the Montreal Alouettes, but they cut him after training camp.
He signed with Saskatchewan last August and played six games before a neck injury — suffered while he was making a touchdown catch Sept. 24 against Calgary — ended his season.
He’s eager to show his abilities again Saturday.
“I’ve always known I can do this,” Bailey said. “In Edmonton, I took about a year just to get the feel of the game. But I know what I can do — and it’s definitely more than what I’ve done.”
Bailey noted that he holds himself to a higher standard than others set for him. The idea that he has yet to live up to his own expectations continues to drive him.
“I haven’t done what I wanted to — not by any means,” he said. “The goal was never, ‘Show them why you were a first-round pick.’ It was always to be one of the best and I know that I haven’t shown that.
“With (Saturday’s) opportunity, I’m going to take what I can to push in that direction.”
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Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones expects Bailey, Moore and Brian Jones to all get an opportunity Saturday.
“We’ve got different personnel packages to try to utilize people’s strengths and (offensive co-ordinator Stephen McAdoo) has got them a good plan that’s not overly complicated,” Chris Jones said. “It’s hard to replace a guy who has got three years of experience (like Holley), so we’ll give them different packages to try to utilize our strengths.”
Saskatchewan also activated tailback Cameron 
Marshall from the practice roster. He replaces Marcus Thigpen, who was put on the one-game injured list with groin and ankle issues.
Marshall was signed to the practice roster Aug. 13. The Roughriders’ leading rusher last season, Marshall was released on the eve of training camp for failing his physical — a result of the knee injury he suffered midway through the 2017 season.
The Roughriders hope to see last year’s version of Marshall when he spells off Tre Mason.
“(Marshall) seems to be (in shape),” Jones said. “He’s a guy who always keeps himself in shape.
“He has caught some footballs and blocked some people and done all the things that players do to get ready for a game. After a couple of weeks of practising, I feel pretty good about him.”
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The Hamilton Tiger-Cats did Saskatchewan a favour Thursday.
A last-play field goal by Lirim Hajrullahu gave Hamilton a 25-24 victory over the visiting Eskimos, dropping them to 6-4-0. With a victory Saturday, the Roughriders can pull to within two points of Edmonton in the West Division standings.
Hamilton slotback Luke Tasker, who caught nine passes for 156 yards and a touchdown in the victory, subsequently received a congratulatory text from an old friend.
“It wasn’t even about the favour; it’s just that I was happy for my guy Luke,” said Roughriders quarterback Zach Collaros, who played alongside Tasker in Hamilton for four seasons.
Mind you, the favour didn’t hurt, either.
“It’s still early and there’s a lot of football left to be played — it’s not even Labour Day yet — but anytime you can keep pace in the division, it’s a good thing,” Collaros said. “Obviously we hope the East teams beat all the West teams and I’m sure (West teams) feel the same way when we play (East) teams.”
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The Roughriders announced Friday that the Labour Day Classic — the Sept. 2 clash against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium — is sold out.
It’s the third straight sellout and the fourth of the season for Saskatchewan, which also played before packed houses on June 30 against Montreal and July 28 and Sunday versus Calgary.
Jones noted after Sunday’s victory that the crowd affected the Stampeders and that could be the case again against Winnipeg. Sellouts also affect the Roughriders.
“The players notice it when we go to other places and there are fans,” Jones said. “When we walk out (at Mosaic) and we’ve got a sellout and they’re loud and they’re causing penalties for the opposing team, that’s not common in the CFL. It’s more in tune of what (players) probably had at college football. They really enjoy it and they appreciate it.”
