Steinhauer out for season as Riders ink Geoff Tisdale

Some reinforcements are coming for the battered and beaten up Saskatchewan Roughriders. 

On Tuesday, the Riders made the signing of former Montreal Alouettes defensive back Geoff Tisdale official.

Tisdale, a former CFL East Division All-Star, was released by the Montreal Alouettes before the start of the regular season.

“I love playing football, I want to play football. So, when I got the call, the only thing on my mind was I get the opportunity to go out there and do what I love to do,” said Tisdale. 

Since his release, Tisdale was always confident he would find another job.

“You got to be real about it at some point and anything can happen,” he said.

“In my mind, I know the type of player I am. I know how I prepare and I know what I’ve been doing for the last seven years.”

Tisdale is in Saskatchewan now thanks to yet another injury to a veteran member of the Green and White. Defensive back Weldon Brown suffered what appeared to be an arm or shoulder injury in the team’s loss to the B.C. Lions on Friday night. On Tuesday, head coach Corey Chamblin confirmed that Brown would be out but couldn’t say for how long. 

No matter the reason why Tisdale is here, the California native knows he’s here to do one thing.

“What I do best, that’s playing man coverage,” he said.

“That’s what they want me to come here and do. That’s what I like to do and that’s what I’m bringing.”

Even though Tisdale is a former all-star, it appears the new rules regarding pass interference and illegal contact on a receiver were his downfall in Montreal. 

Tisdale admits there is an adjustment there but as a professional it’s his job to make those changes. 

The Riders appear to also be set to bring another veteran let go at the end of training camp. Sources are telling the Green Zone’s Jamie Nye that the team will be bringing back defensive back Paul Woldu, news that has since been made official by the team.

Woldu services are needed now with a growing number of injured Canadians on the roster, the latest being defensive lineman and back-up long snapper Levi Steinhauer. The Moose Jaw native is out for the rest of the regular season with a torn ACL. 

It’s not clear at this point will take over the back up long snapping duties behind Jorgen Hus. 

Pushing Restart

The Riders are hoping this week gives them a fresh start.

Chamblin has told his players to treat this week like the start of a brand new season.

“Some of the things we wanted to accomplish we didn’t accomplish in that first part of the season. So, reset,” he said.

“We’ve learned a lot of lessons in three regular season games and two pre-season games. So, it’s time for us to move forward and start applying those lessons learned.”

Over the last few days, Chamblin has faced a lot of heat in the media, during call in shows, and online for the way this season has started. 

Right now, it appears that criticism isn’t getting to Chamblin and he’s not too worried about it.

“They can come stand in here and boo me every day. At the end of the day, I get a pay cheque and I’m doing my job,” he said.

“I think my body of work since I’ve been here has been commendable.”

The Riders will swing open the doors to practice on Wednesday morning at Mosaic Stadium ahead of their game Friday night at home against the Lions. 

JGasson@rawlco.com
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