The Saskatchewan Roughriders, situated atop the CFL’s West Division, are nonetheless hungry for a victory.
“I’d say it’s more starving than anything,” emphasized quarterback Trevor Harris, who completed 31 of 39 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns in Friday’s 27-24 loss to the visiting Montreal Alouettes.
“I think we were the better team last week. At the end of the day, they won, but we’ve just got to make sure that we tighten up a few things here and there and not let it get to the point where it comes down to a last-second drive.
“We’re just focused on this week. We flushed that (Montreal game) after 24 hours, because the rule is that after 24 hours, you’ve got to move on. Whether it’s a defeat or a win, it doesn’t matter. It’s on to the next week.
“We’re full force ahead on Toronto and we plan on making a nice little run here.”
The Roughriders (5-4-1) carry a four-game winless streak (0-3-1) into Thursday’s game against the host Toronto Argonauts (5:30 p.m., TSN, CKRM).
With that contest approaching, Head Coach Corey Mace was asked about the degree to which he hungers for a victory.
“I just smashed some tacos and a doughnut and I’m starving,” he said.
“We’re itching just to get it off our back. We don’t have the feeling like we’re a bad team. The confidence is still really high. We’ve just got to find ways to get it done.”
Saskatchewan has been outscored by just three points over its past two games. Last week’s game was preceded by a 22-22 tie with the host Ottawa REDBLACKS on Aug. 8.
“We’ve been in really tight games, which is usually what it’s like toward the end of the year, so we’re training through that and just having an understanding of what those look like,” Mace said.
HONOUR ROLL
Harris and teammate Jameer Thurman were named on Tuesday to the Week 11 Honour Roll, as selected by Pro Football Focus.
Thurman had the highest grade (71.1) of any CFL linebacker last week. He registered six defensive tackles (including one for a loss) and one sack against Montreal.
Harris, who was recognized as the best offensive player, led all quarterbacks with an eye-popping 93.9 — the third-best grade anyone has posted this season, regardless of position. His Week 1 grade of 91.6 is ninth-best.
Harris and Thurman both enjoyed banner games against Montreal after returning from an injury. Harris missed six games with a knee injury. Thurman (elbow) sat out one game before making a robust return.
“It’s just like you said — Pro Football Focus,” Mace said. “These are professional football players and they’re locked in even when they’re not on the field.
“Those are guys who we always earmarked as being leaders, even just by example. Whether they were on the field or not, they were constantly in the coaches’ ears about things that they see or helping players around them who are either in their spots or working around their spots.
“It’s no surprise for us, as a staff. You’re just happy that they can push through whatever they’re dealing with physically and challenge themselves when they get back out and hit the ground running.”
INJURY UPDATE
Receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker could return to the lineup on Thursday after missing four games with a shoulder injury. He was listed as questionable on Tuesday’s injury report.
“He looked pretty good (in practice),” Mace said. “We’re just in the middle of watching film, as always, so we’ll see.
“I know he’d probably be excited, because he’s going back home. He hasn’t played in Toronto since becoming a pro. He has always gone to Touchdown Atlantic (to oppose the Argonauts in Nova Scotia in 2022 and 2023).
“There’s a possibility (of Schaffer-Baker playing), but we just want to make sure he tested the right way, so we’ll see.”
Mace also provided an update on receiver Mitch Picton, who injured an ankle shortly after catching a 33-yard touchdown pass against Montreal.
“It’s going to be a couple of weeks, unfortunately for Mitch,” Mace said, “but it’s not season-ending, which is good.”
Also listed as out for Thursday’s game are running back A.J. Ouellette (hip) and boundary cornerback Amari Henderson (shoulder).
Frankie Hickson is poised to make his fourth start in place of Ouellette. Deontai Williams, who started the season’s first six games at boundary cornerback, is expected to return to that spot on Thursday.
Williams, a healthy scratch for the last four games, is listed as available. The same status applies to receiver Ajou Ajou (finger), defensive linemen Micah Johnson (illness) and Habakkuk Baldonado (head), and linebackers C.J. Avery (head) and Melique Straker (hamstring).
Defensive back Jaxon Ford (wrist) and linebacker Nick Wiebe (knee) were full participants in practice on Tuesday after being classified as limited on Monday. Listed as out for Thursday, both players have been sidelined since the beginning of training camp.
KELLY STARTS
Argonauts Head Coach Ryan Dinwiddie confirmed on Tuesday that Chad Kelly will start at quarterback against Saskatchewan.
Kelly, who was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2023, sat out Toronto’s first nine games of this season while serving a league-issued suspension.
Mace and Kelly both debuted with the Argonauts in 2022. Mace was Toronto’s defensive co-ordinator for two seasons before being hired by the Roughriders in late November.
What does Kelly bring to the table that the Roughriders must defend?
“A ton,” Mace replied. “There’s everything everybody saw from him last year and just how he operates the offence.
“The Number 1 thing is he’s a big-time competitor, even down to the practice reps and stuff like that, so he’ll bring an extra juice to the offence.”
