Roughriders receivers Joe Robustelli and D’Sean Mimbs reach landmarks

Two football families. Two firsts.

Joe Robustelli — a proud grandson of Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Andy Robustelli — is coming off a game in which he scored his first touchdown as a professional football player.

D’Sean Mimbs, whose father Robert rushed for 1,403 yards with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1996, also reached a milestone on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium by registering his initial CFL reception.

Mimbs made a clutch catch near the sideline, hauling in a Trevor Harris pass for a five-yard gain on third-and-three.

Robustelli enjoyed a breakout game, making 11 receptions for 191 yards — 18 of which resulted from a third-quarter TD toss by Harris.

“It felt really good,” Robustelli said. “You kind of black out a little bit when it happens, but I’m excited I could get my first one.”

On top of that, he logged the Roughriders’ highest post-pandemic single-game receiving-yardage total.

Until Saturday, a Saskatchewan receiver had not reached or exceeded 191 yards since Oct. 5, 2019, when Shaq Evans caught seven passes for 193 yards against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“I’m just happy I could go out there and do my job,” Robustelli said after a 24-10 Calgary victory left the Stampeders and Roughriders with 4-1 records.

“It’s bittersweet, definitely. When you perform like that, you’d like to celebrate it, but it’s a team sport. When you don’t come out with the victory, it hurts a little bit.”

Robustelli became the fourth-fastest Roughriders receiver to reach 11 receptions in a game.

Freeman Johns caught 12 passes for 191 yards in his CFL debut, which was against Edmonton on Sept. 17, 1978 at Taylor Field.

Curtis Marsh erupted for 11 catches and 159 yards against the host B.C. Lions on July 13, 2000, in his second game as a Roughrider.

Steve Adkins’ third game as a Roughrider — against the Saskatoon Hilltops at the Regina Exhibition Grounds on Oct. 6, 1934 — was an 11-catch, 232-yard gem.

Robustelli’s 11-catch effort came in his fourth game with the Green and White.

Johns was the fastest to reach 191 yards. He hit that very number in his first game, just 11 days after signing with Saskatchewan.

Next in line: Mike Saunders, who had 214 yards on eight receptions in his second appearance with the Roughriders (Oct. 25, 1992 against the visiting Lions).

Adkins, with 232 yards in his third game, occupies third spot.

Then comes Robustelli, who wears the same uniform number (82) as Greg Ellingson — a favourite target of Harris’s with the Ottawa REDBLACKS and Edmonton Elks.

“Joe reminds me a bit of Greg … very twitchy,” Harris said of the five-time 1,000-yard receiver.

“He makes tough catches. He’s good after the catch … very strong.

“I thought he did a great job (on Saturday). That’s a lot of yards, especially for his fourth professional game.

“I’m really happy for him.”

It was also the fourth professional game for Mimbs, who caught a short pass from Harris on Calgary’s 10-yard line to move the chains with 6½ minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

“It was cool,” the former University of Regina Rams standout said. “My brain was going kind of crazy, being subbed in that late and not being warm or anything.

“But getting that first catch, getting the first hit, feels good.”

Mimbs recorded the first gain by a member of his family since Aug. 31, 1997, when his father suited up for the Roughriders against his original CFL team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

With Winnipeg, Mimbs twice rushed for 1,000-plus yards — peaking at 1,769 in 1991. With Saskatchewan in 1996, he was named the West Division’s Most Outstanding Player after leading the league in rushing.

“It means a lot to me to follow in my father’s footsteps and keep it going,” D’Sean Mimbs said.

“It’s a real blessing, being able to play football as a job.”

Mimbs is also earning a paycheque as a sixth-rounder. He was chosen 50^th overall by Saskatchewan in the 2024 CFL Draft.

“This just goes to show that all the work I’ve done in the background has been working,” he said. “I’m just going to keep doing that and keep grinding.”

Like Mimbs, Robustelli’s story is that of an underdog.

After playing football as a 4-foot-11 high school freshman in Sarasota, Fla., he did not return to the sport at an organized level until 2023.

It was then that he joined the Tusculum University Pioneers — an NCAA Division II team that is based in Greenville, Tenn.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder caught 20 passes for 475 yards and six touchdowns in eight games. He averaged 23.8 yards per reception.

Now he is once again representing the Robustelli family in the professional football ranks.

“It has been a long journey to get to where I am today,” Michael and Tracey Robustelli’s 27-year-old son said. “I’m proud of it.

“I appreciate my family and everybody supporting me on this journey. I’ve just got to keep it rolling.”