Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Tyrique McGhee has noticed a pattern — one that is unlike the routes run by receivers he conventionally covers.
Winnipeg has invariably been part of the picture since he entered the CFL in 2023.
A member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the past two seasons, he is now part of a Saskatchewan squad that plays his former team in both 2025 pre-season games.
“There’s some divine intervention going on,” McGhee remarked on Wednesday at Mosaic Stadium after the final full workout of Coors Light Training Camp.
The 5-foot-9, 185-pounder led the Roughriders in pass knockdowns (two) during Saturday’s 15-9 loss to Winnipeg at Princess Auto Stadium.
He is now preparing for Friday’s pre-season finale against, of course, Winnipeg (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
“I’m going to take every opportunity I get,” the 26-year-old University of Georgia Bulldogs alumnus said. “I’m excited to be here.
“This is a great organization and I am really pumped for the season.”
McGhee signed with Saskatchewan on Dec. 27th after playing in three regular-season games and three pre-season contests over two years with Winnipeg.
“He’s a cagey vet,” Head Coach and Defensive Co-ordinator Corey Mace said. “He has been around the league for a couple of years and, obviously, with a successful organization. As far as culture and fitting in, I think that was easy for him.
“Having that CFL experience and being able to make plays, he has shown he can do that. Of course, there’s always going to be stuff that he’s going to want to clean up a little bit to make even more.
“He takes it as a pro and he works at it each day. He’s another guy who I know is champing at the bit to get back out there. I’m excited to see him roll.”
Mace was among the first people from the organization to reach out to McGhee, who concluded the 2024 season on the Bombers’ practice roster and was therefore a free agent.
McGhee also spoke with Jeremy O’Day (Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager) and Joshua Bell (Pass Game Co-ordinator and Defensive Backs) before signing with Saskatchewan.
“They let you know that they want you,” McGhee said. “Everybody was so personable.
“It’s not just talking to front-office guys. It’s the coaches reaching out as well. That was a big plus for me.”
So was an impressive debut with the Roughriders under game conditions.
“It was a really solid showing,” McGhee said of last weekend’s pre-season game. “I feel like I left a couple of plays (on the field) where I could have turned the whole game around.
“But that’s what pre-season is for — seeing what you missed and improving on things that you did right, because they’re going to come right back at it.
“We’re playing them again six days later, so it’s going to be big.”
DEEP DATA DIVE
It just so happens that three of the longest pre-season plays in Roughriders history have been recorded during a home game against Winnipeg.
Could more long gainers be in store on Friday?
The three aforementioned record-setting plays (pre-season only) are as follows:
Longest punt return: 91 yards — Derrick Miller, June 16, 1995 (TD).
Longest missed field goal return: 87 — Quincy Walden, June 10, 2017.
Longest fumble return: 51 — Carlton Lance, June 25, 1993 (TD).
In case you are wondering about the Roughriders’ other pre-season precedents …
Longest run: 82 — Bob McKeiver at Montreal, Aug. 11, 1958 (TD).
Longest passing play: 95 — Ron Lancaster to Bobby Thompson at Montreal, July 24, 1969 (TD).
Longest interception return: 91 — Terry Irvin vs. Calgary, June 14, 1984 (TD).
Longest kickoff return: 115 — Thompson vs. Hamilton, July 17, 1970 (TD).
Longest field goal: 55 — Brett Lauther at Edmonton, May 27, 2018.
Longest punt: 100 — Ferd Burket vs. Calgary (at Spokane), Aug. 1, 1961.
Follow-up factoids:The Aug. 1, 1961 matchup with Calgary was the finale of a two-game trip to Washington state. Two days before visiting Spokane, the Roughriders faced the B.C. Lions in Seattle.
• Three of the record-holders (McKeiver, Miller and Walden) never played a regular-season game for the Roughriders.
• Thompson holds two records: Regarding his 115-yard kickoff return: He also owns the Roughriders’ regular-season record in that category, having erupted for another 115-yarder against the visiting Lions on Oct. 24, 1971.
• Lance’s son, Trey, was chosen third overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 25-year-old quarterback is now with the Los Angeles Chargers.
INJURY UPDATE
The Roughriders are awaiting a definitive medical assessment regarding defensive tackle Charbel Dabire, who suffered a leg injury in training camp last week.
“They’re going to have to look a little bit deeper into it but, off the first imaging, it doesn’t look season-ending, which is good,” Mace said.
“They’re going to continue to look at it and see, but I wouldn’t expect him to be playing in the first week.”
The Roughriders are to open the regular season on June 5th against the Ottawa REDBLACKS (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
