A.J. ALLEN (32), Week 6, CFL, Canadian, Football, 1st Half Saskatchewan Roughriders vs Calgary Stampeders at Mosaic Stadium on Jul 12, 2025..Featured: A.J. ALLEN (32).Photographed by: Arthur Ward
A.J. Allen specializes in quick picks.
The 27-year-old Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker intercepted the Calgary Stampeders’ Vernon Adams Jr. on the first offensive play of last Saturday’s CFL game at Mosaic Stadium.
Allen’s previous interception was on the second play from scrimmage — and the first passing play — when the B.C. Lions visited Saskatchewan on Oct. 12.
The latter turnover was at the expense of Nathan Rourke, who is to start at quarterback for B.C. when it plays host to Saskatchewan on Saturday (5 p.m., TSN, CKRM).
The interception against Rourke was returned 48 yards for a touchdown. Allen crossed the goal line at 1:05 of the first quarter.
Most recently, Allen made a leaping grab of an Adams Jr. pass and took off on a 10-yard return before being tackled just 32 seconds into the game.
“What can I say?” the always-smiling Allen said on Thursday. “The first two interceptions of my career are on the first passing play of the game.
“I’ll try to keep being in the right spot at the right time. I’m trying to get a pick in the second quarter at this point. I’ve got to stretch this a little bit, because this is a crazy run I’m on.”
On Saturday, Allen became the first Roughrider to make an interception on the opening play from scrimmage since Nov. 5, 2016, when Ed Gainey notched a pick against Jonathon Jennings in Vancouver.
A Roughrider had not recorded an interception on the opposition’s first offensive play since Aug. 1, 2019, when Loucheiz Purifoy stepped in front of a pass by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ Dane Evans at Mosaic Stadium. Purifoy was tackled at 2:28 of the first quarter.
Hamilton ran the game’s second offensive series after kicking off to Saskatchewan to begin the contest.
RECEIVING LINE
The Roughriders’ receivers have taken turns being showcased over the team’s first five games.
Four different players have exceeded 100-plus yards: Samuel Emilus (133 yards in Game 1), KeeSean Johnson (124, Game 2), Dohnte Meyers (125, Game 3) and Joe Robustelli (191, Game 5).
In Game 4, Dhel Duncan-Busby made a 42-yard reception for his first CFL touchdown.
Last week against Calgary, four Roughriders caught at least six passes: Robustelli (11 for 191 yards), Mitch Picton (seven for 41), Meyers (six for 54) and running back A.J. Ouellette (six for 58).
Johnson added four catches for 60 yards on an afternoon in which Harris completed 36 passes for 425 yards — his highest totals as a Roughrider.
“The defence dictated where the ball went,” Harris said. “I think we might have had a different receiver be our leading receiver every week this year so far.
“Wherever we feel the defence is kind of dictating the ball to go, that’s where it will go. We feel very confident that our playmakers are going to be able to make those kinds of plays.”
INJURY UPDATE
Emilus, who has missed the past three games with a foot injury, was listed as available for the game in B.C. on the Roughriders’ Thursday injury report.
The final roster does not have to be declared until Friday.
“He’s trending in the right direction,” Head Coach Corey Mace said on Thursday. “If he feels like he can go out there and be himself, who am I to say no to that? But we’ll see.”
Also listed as available for Saturday are starting defensive backs Tevaughn Campbell (groin), Rolan Milligan Jr. (back) and Marcus Sayles (hip). Campbell is the only member of that trio who did not play last week.
Daniel Johnson, who has started at left offensive tackle in the last four games, is out with a shoulder injury.
Thursday’s injury list also confirmed that returner Mario Alford (hip) will not play on Saturday. Drae McCray will field punts and kickoffs in the absence of Alford.
