Edmonton Eskimos (7-7-0)
at Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-5-0)
Monday, 2 p.m., Mosaic Stadium
CKRM, TSN
THE FORECAST: Environment Canada is calling for a mainly cloudy day with a high of 7 C.
THE LOWDOWN: The Roughriders and Eskimos are to meet for the second and final time in the 2018 regular season. Edmonton won 26-19 when the teams played Aug. 2 at Commonwealth Stadium; that was the Eskimos’ sixth win in the clubs’ past eight games … The Roughriders have won six of their last seven games this season, including a 34-29 decision over the Montreal Alouettes on Sept. 30. The Eskimos are 1-4-0 in their last five, including a 30-3 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sept. 29 … This contest could have huge implications on the West Division playoff race. Saskatchewan currently sits in second place, two points up on the third-place Bombers (8-7-0) and four up on the fourth-place Eskimos and B.C. Lions (7-7-0). Since this is the final meeting between the Roughriders and Eskimos, the season series will be decided — and that could be important if the teams wind up tied in the standings … This is the first time that Saskatchewan has staged a home game on Thanksgiving Monday since 2003.
THE RIDERS’ ROSTER: Quarterback Zach Collaros is coming off his finest statistical game of the 2018 season, a 394-yard outing against the Als. The last time Collaros faced the Eskimos, he was playing for the first time since being activated off the six-game injured list after a five-week hiatus. This time, he’s making his ninth straight start … Tre Mason and Marcus Thigpen again will rotate at tailback, with Spencer Moore lining up at fullback in certain packages. Together, Mason (688) and Thigpen (402) have rushed for 1,090 yards with an average carry of 6.2 yards this season … The Roughriders’ starting receiving corps has a slightly different look from the game in Montreal. Devon Bailey supplants Josh Stanford as the starting national receiver, but the other starters — Shaq Evans, Kyran Moore, Kenny Shaw and Jordan Williams-Lambert — remain the same. Stanford and Brian Jones are the national backups, while international K.D. Cannon comes off the practice roster to serve as another backup … Cannon takes the roster spot of linebacker Paul Dawson, who moves to the practice roster … Saskatchewan’s offensive line once again comprises Dan Clark at centre, Dariusz Bladek and Brendon LaBatte at guard, and Takoby Cofield and Thaddeus Coleman at tackle. Josiah St. John is the sixth man, although he did rotate with Bladek in Montreal … The starting defensive line remains intact, with Zack Evans and Makana Henry inside and Charleston Hughes and Willie Jefferson outside. Tobi Antigha, Chad Geter, Curt Maggitt, Jordan Reaves and Eddie Steele are the backups … CFL sophomore Cameron Judge has become a solid player in the Roughriders’ linebacking corps. He’s getting more and more playing time at the expense of Sam Hurl at middle linebacker … Sam Eguavoen and Derrick Moncrief will line up at the weak- and strong-side linebacker positions, respectively, to start Monday’s game … Loucheiz Purifoy, who missed the game in Montreal with a concussion, comes off the six-game injured list early and starts at halfback in the secondary. That means Saskatchewan’s starting five comprises Nick Marshall and Matt Elam on the corners, Purifoy and Ed Gainey at the halfback spots and Mike Edem at safety. With Purifoy’s return to the lineup, Jovon Johnson has been placed on the one-game injured list … Punter Josh Bartel, kicker Brett Lauther and long-snapper Jorgen Hus once again will be the Roughriders’ specialists … Special-teamer/backup linebacker Brandyn Bartlett comes onto the roster and takes the spot of receiver Rob Bagg, who goes on the one-game injured list.
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