Riders’ Shaq Evans out for 6-8 weeks with broken foot

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be without one of their top offensive weapon for the next while.

Shaq Evans, who had 1,334 yards and five touchdowns in 2019, suffered a broken left foot in Saskatchewan’s 30-8 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.

Evans suffered the injury when Hamilton linebacker Simoni Lawrence flew into the back of his leg while trying to tackle Rider quarterback Cody Fajardo.

“Any time you lose your number one guy out there, it’s going to hurt you,” head coach Craig Dickenson said. “He was our featured guy so next-man-up mentality. We’ve had to do that all year and this is just another example of that. I think we’ve got good players in-house that can pick up the slack and the rest of us on offence know that we maybe need to do a touch extra.”

Through the first two games this season, 30-year-old Evans caught eight passes for 87 yards.

One of the players who could be called on is wide receiver Paul McRoberts.

McRoberts, who is on the practice roster for his second CFL season, was running in the slotback position with the starters during Tuesday’s practice, with Jordan Williams-Lambert running in Evans’ wide receiver spot. Dickenson admitted the team wasn’t sure how it would look come Saturday’s game against the Ottawa Redblacks.

“People might look at it as pressure on me but I’m not taking it like that,” McRoberts said. “I feel like this is what I was made to do, I’m going to go do it and I’m going to have fun with it and fit right in and play off those guys’ energy. They’ve been killing it.”

Restrictions loosened for fully-vaccinated players

Dickenson admitted it was nice to get out and enjoy a meal after the CFL loosened restrictions when it comes to players and staff fully-vaccinated against COVID.

“I went out for a steak on Sunday so that was a good thing. I was in a way better mood on Monday after that,” Dickenson said.

Players and staff who have both vaccine doses and are two weeks out can now go to restaurants with other fully-vaccinated friends and family and masks are no longer required on the field.

“I think guys were feeling pent up,” Dickenson said. “It allows the fully-vaccinated players a chance to explore Regina in the afternoons and see what’s out there and go for a walk in the park or get a chance to see what this city is all about.”

Dickenson said he believes the team is right at the 85 per cent mark when it comes to how many of his players are vaccinated.

He also believes that allowing fewer restrictions for those with their COVID vaccines will lead to other players getting theirs.

“The unfortunate thing is that it’s too late for (the players) to get home for the bye-week so I think a lot of them weren’t really thinking as far ahead as they should have been,” Dickenson said.  “We’ve had a couple guys within the last week decide to get vaccinated.”

Notes: Defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy (thigh) was given Tuesday off as a rest day … Offensive tackle Brett Boyko is still dealing with an illness and isn’t expected back until after the bye week.