Evans, Williams, Webb all set to start in showdown with Stamps

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have their biggest game of 2021 so far on Saturday, but Damon Webb is used to the stakes being high.

The defensive back will make his first CFL start due to a hamstring injury to Christian Campbell.

“It means a lot (to start) just knowing that my coaches trust me to come in and fill a huge role in our defence. A lot of dudes are down right now and I feel like the coaches have 100 per cent confidence in me to get my job done,” Webb said.

Webb’s addition to the starting lineup is just one of a number of changes for the Riders this week.

On the offensive side, wide receiver Shaq Evans and slotback Duke Williams will start and provide quarterback Cody Fajardo with more firepower.

The Riders will be without a few starters on the defensive side of the ball. Campbell, defensive back Blace Brown (shoulder) and linebacker Godfrey Onyeka (back) have all been added to the six-game injured list. Defensive end A.C. Leonard (knee) is trending towards playing but his status is still up in the air.

Jeremy Clark will start at the field corner spot with A.J. Hendy playing the strong-side linebacker spot — the place where he began the season as the starter.

“Communication is going to be very important and we emphasized that a lot this week,” Webb said.

The showdown Saturday with the host Calgary Stampeders has the feel of a playoff game after the results of the last two meetings between the clubs.

After a pair of losses, the Riders have seen their grip on second place in the CFL’s West Division — and a home playoff game — loosen, and Calgary can take the spot by beating the Riders on Saturday. Kickoff for the game is set for 7:45 p.m.

“If we want to host (a playoff game), we’ve got to win this game and our guys know that. We’ve got to play our best game and we’ve got to lay it all out there and let the chips fall where they may,” Riders head coach Craig Dickenson said. “We’re going to come out swinging and we’re going to play our darnedest.”

Webb has played in big games before, playing four seasons with the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was a member of the team that defeated the USC Trojans 24-7 in the 2017 Cotton Bowl.

“This is just another football game; no nervous feelings. (I’m) just more anxious to get out there and play. (I’m) really just happy to go out there and do what I love doing,” Webb said.

In that Cotton Bowl game, Webb returned an interception for a touchdown. Earlier this year in B.C., Webb picked up a fumble on a kickoff to score on the game’s final play.

“I started off as a wide receiver so I scored a lot of touchdowns in my career. When I get that ball in my hand, that’s the main thing — trying to put points up on the board and be a game-changer,” Webb said.

While it’s his first start, Webb has already seen what Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell can bring. Campbell injured his hamstring early in the 22-19 loss on Oct. 9, which led to Webb getting into the game.

“I feel like (Mitchell) is a risk-taker. He’s got a good arm but he takes a lot of risks and he doesn’t really look receivers off,” Webb said. “There’s a lot of opportunities for us to make plays on the ball.

“I feel like the first two games, we left a lot of plays out there on the field. If everybody does their job and trust their brothers, they’re going to be where they need to be and everything will be all right and we will get this win.”

Evans returns to lineup, Williams to start in first CFL game since 2018

The offence will get some new weapons this week.

Evans returns after missing the past seven games due to a broken foot suffered in Week 2 in a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

In two games this season, Evans has caught eight passes for 87 yards. During his breakout season in 2019, Evans averaged 18.5 yards per reception en route to catching 72 passes for 1,334 yards and five touchdowns.

Williams is back in the CFL after spending the past three years in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills.

When Williams was last in the CFL in 2018 with Edmonton, he was one of the league’s best receivers, recording 88 catches for 1,579 yards and 11 touchdowns.