Ka’Deem Carey, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ newest No. 29, is No. 14 in a different context.
He has become the 14th player to join the Green and White after gaining 1,000-plus rushing yards for another team earlier in his CFL career.
Also on that list is the 13th such player, A.J. Ouellette, who practised on Tuesday after clearing concussion protocol without any issues.
Ouellette was forced to leave Thursday’s regular-season opener against the Ottawa REDBLACKS after a helmet-on-helmet collision late in the first quarter at Mosaic Stadium.
According to Head Coach Corey Mace, Ouellette is “A-1” and “ready to go” as the Roughriders (1-0) prepare for Saturday’s road game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1).
Carey, whose signing was announced on Monday, has been added to the practice roster. He was surprisingly released on June 1st by the defending Grey Cup-champion Toronto Argonauts, for whom he rushed for 1,060 yards in 2024.
“It was easy to join something going on, because I could see something going on from the outside looking in,” Carey said. “I just want to be a part of something great that’s happening right now.”
Mace was delighted to add Carey to the equation.
“Certainly, I think everybody understands the player that he is,” the Roughriders’ chief strategist said of the three-time Divisional All-CFL selection, who made the league’s dream team in 2022.
“He has won championships. You can’t have too many people in the building like that who can push the message of what it looks like to win.
“He wants to be here and he’s coming in humbly. He understands the situation and we got to see him today working his tail off.”
The corps of ball-carriers also includes Ouellette, Thomas Bertrand-Hudon and Mario Anderson Jr., the latter of whom is on the practice roster.
Bertrand-Hudon rushed 14 times for 57 yards and caught two passes for 17 yards in the 31-26 victory over Ottawa. He scored a touchdown on a run and a reception.
“We can say we’re the best backs in the league now, officially,” Carey said. “We’re just going to ride and push each other.”
Carey, 32, spent three seasons with the NFL’s Chicago Bears before playing in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders (2019-23) and Toronto (2024). He led the league in rushing in 2021 and 2022 and was third overall last year.
“I started off on the practice squad in Calgary, so I kind of understand this road,” he said. “I’m excited and I can’t wait to touch that field and show everybody what I can do again.
“But I’m going to be patient, because it is another star in front of me and I love to watch him run the ball, too. I’m excited to see him run some people over.”
Ouellette was a divisional All-CFL selection with the Argonauts in 2022 and 2023 before signing with Saskatchewan as a free agent. He rushed for a career-high 1,009 yards in 2023.
Carey and Ouellette are accompanied by 12 players on the list of running backs who joined Saskatchewan after gaining 1,000-plus yards elsewhere.
The other 12 are Gerry James (1964 Roughriders), Mike Strickland (1978-79), Jay Washington (1980), Jimmy Edwards (1982), Orville Lee (1991-92), Robert Mimbs (1995-97), Cory Philpot (1998), Mike Saunders (1992-94, 1997-99), Josh Ranek (2007), Kerry Joseph (2006-07, 2014), Jerome Messam (2014-15, 2018) and William Powell (2019, 2021).
Saunders rushed for 1,000-plus yards for Saskatchewan (1994) and the San Antonio Texans (1995). Mimbs’ son, D’Sean, is now a receiver with the Roughriders.
INJURY UPDATE
Like Ouellette, defensive halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday after sustaining a head injury.
Milligan Jr., who was named the league’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2024, left Thursday’s game five plays after Ouellette was sidelined.
“We’re taking the same process (with Milligan Jr.),” Mace said. “Everybody’s going to be different, just depending on how they feel, but both those guys are trending in the right direction.”
Left guard Jacob Brammer (back) was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday after missing Thursday’s game. In his absence, the Roughriders had shifted Trevon Tate from left tackle to left guard. Rookie Payton Collins started at left tackle and performed admirably until suffering a knee injury with five minutes left in the third quarter. He did not practise on Tuesday.
Neither did receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker (foot) and linebacker C.J. Avery, the latter of whom has been placed on the six-game injury list.
“C.J. is dealing with a bicep, so that’s unfortunate,” Mace said. “That’ll be longer than we want, but there is still an outside chance that he does get back.
“Payton, I don’t think that’s going to be long-term. And then Schaff, same thing. He’ll be back (during) the season. It’s just a matter of when. I don’t want to put a true timeline on that, but it’ll be a little bit.”
HONOUR ROLL
The Roughriders fielded the CFL’s highest-rated offensive line, according to grading done by Pro Football Focus, and were thus recognized on the Week 1 Honour Roll.
The O-line received a unit grade of 67.9, with the top performers being right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick (72.0), Collins (71.3) and Tate (69.0).
Saskatchewan did not surrender a sack while also moving the ball on the ground in the season opener.
Hardrick was the league’s highest-graded offensive lineman. Bertrand-Hudon (80.3) and receiver Samuel Emilus (88.9) also led their respective positions.
Emilus, in fact, had the second-best grade overall, behind B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke (90.8).
Roughriders defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado (82.8) was sixth overall. Bertrand-Hudon was ninth.
