Jake Wieneke expects next week to include a bye and a hello.
He will likely be introduced to his third child — a daughter — during a respite that is to begin after the Saskatchewan Roughriders oppose the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday at McMahon Stadium (5 p.m., TSN, CKRM).
“We’re hoping and praying for the baby to come Monday,” the fourth-year CFL receiver said before the team departed for Calgary.
“Early on in the bye week would be perfect. Then we could spend the week at home with the baby and get settled with having three, including a newborn.
“We’re just excited. My wife is ready to meet the baby and the kids are excited to meet their sibling as well.”
Jake and Brenda Wieneke already have a six-year-old son (Israel) and a 1½-year-old daughter (Colette). The due date for their sister is Friday — two days before the Roughriders are to return to the practice field.
“Maybe my wife wouldn’t agree with me as much, because she’s the one carrying the baby, but it seems like the time just flies by,” Wieneke said.
“I remember during the pregnancy with our first child, it seemed like you were just waiting, waiting, waiting, and you were thinking, ‘Is this baby ever going to come?’
“This time, it seems like nine months just flew by. I can’t believe it’s already here. It’s pretty exciting that maybe in a week we’ll have a baby.”
The excitement on the field adds to the air of anticipation in the Wieneke household.
Jake’s teammate and close friend, Trevor Harris, threw for 413 yards in a 45-27 loss to the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers on June 16.
Harris fashioned only the fourth 400-plus-yards passing performance by a Roughrider over the past decade.
“It’s just fun to see and it’s so cool,” says Wieneke, who also caught passes from Harris with the Montreal Alouettes in 2021 and 2022.
“Every game, there’s things you want back. There’s plays you want back and things he wished he would have done differently — and still to see what he did and to feel like he could have played better, it’s just amazing to think that.
“I know that it’s going to be a fun year. It’s great to see how many guys got involved and had big games and there’s still things that we can improve on. That’s the really exciting part.”
Against Winnipeg, the Roughriders boasted two 100-yard receivers — Shawn Bane Jr. (six catches for 125 yards) and Tevin Jones (nine for 121) — in addition to celebrating the first three touchdown catches in the pro football career of sophomore CFLer Samuel Emilus.
Wieneke has eight catches for 80 yards over his first two games with Saskatchewan while making a strong first impression on Craig Dickenson.
“He’s a hard worker and he’s smart,” the Roughriders’ Head Coach said. “We know he catches the ball well and he can run after the catch, but what I really like is his commitment to blocking downfield and playing hard for his teammates.”
Wieneke’s commitment to being an exemplary teammate has also been noted.
“He’s just another key cog in our machine,” Dickenson said. “We want to try to have people who are good football players and good character people as well and people who love football.
“He checks all three boxes.”
Three will soon be the magic number in another context as the Wieneke family prepares to expand.
Although the Wienekes hail from Maple Grove, Minn., the entire family has moved to Regina for the football season.
“It’s a great city,” the 28-year-old slotback said. “We’re in a great spot and we’ve got a nice park nearby. It’s always fun to get to go home, play with the kids, go outside and go on walks.
“I just love the way of life here in Regina. It has been a great spot for us and a great fit for our family, so we’re enjoying it.”
