Riders resting starters but still looking to beat Tiger-Cats

While the game won’t affect the standings for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, it’s a big one for a few players.

Saturday’s showdown with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will see the Riders resting several key starters, including quarterback Cody Fajardo, centre Dan Clark, safety Loucheiz Purifoy, linebacker Micah Teitz, defensive lineman Micah Johnson and slotback Duke Williams.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.

Riders head coach Craig Dickenson is excited to see some of the backups get a shot.

“These guys might not be backups after this game. That’s the whole goal – let’s see what these guys can do because there is no preseason,” Dickenson said. “Let’s put them in a game and see what they can do and if they play well, we will have some tough decisions to make for the playoff game.”

He singled out the linebacker group as one he’s excited to see with Gary Johnson Jr., Alvin Jones Jr., and Michael Pinckney expected to get playing time. Justin Herdman-Reed will start as the Canadian in the group.

“They’ve been practising well all year but it will be fun to see how they do in a game,” Dickenson said. “I want to see who is going to step up and tackle and who is going to be physical and make plays out there.”

The game will be quarterback Isaac Harker’s first start since 2019, when he helped the Riders beat Edmonton 23-13 to clinch first place in the CFL’s West Division for Saskatchewan.

“(It has been a) long time coming, especially because I spent a lot of long hours during quarantine when you weren’t sure if you were ever going to get a season again and all that,” Harker said after Tuesday’s practice. “It’s special to get a chance to play again and we’ve been working so long for it. Anytime you can get live reps is definitely a help and especially if you’ve been coached well in the past, if you make a mistake you won’t make it again.”

Another player looking to make more of a mark this week is running back Jamal Morrow.

Morrow has been a contributor on special teams as one of the team’s kick returners, but he will make his first CFL start at running back in Saturday’s game.

“It’ll be amazing. It’s cool to have guys like (William Powell) just to sit there and mentor me through everything and make sure we’re doing the right thing,” Morrow said. “He has been coaching me throughout the whole year about when you play running back and what to do to prepare for it.”

On defence, Pinckney will get his first start of the year at middle linebacker. He was in training camp and cut before being brought back in September.

“I told them I was upset back then because I got here three days before cuts, which I understood. At the end of the day, it’s a business,” Pinckney said. “Coming back, I think it speaks volumes what they think of me and I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”

But not all veterans are getting the day off.

One of the players still playing this week will be wide receiver Shaq Evans.

“My goal for Saturday is to keep the momentum going in terms of my individual participation whether it is getting acclimated and getting back in shape and just getting my feet back under me and feeling like myself again, which is why I wanted to play this week,” Evans said.

Evans has only played in six games this year after suffering a broken foot in week 2 against the Tiger-Cats. Saskatchewan won that game 30-8.

“Each and every week I’ve gotten a couple percentage points better just as a player,” Evans said. “I felt this past game was the best I’ve felt physically since I’ve come back. Each week has been a steady upward trajectory and I think heading into the playoffs I’ll be back to myself 100 per cent.”

With the Montreal Alouettes 19-18 loss to the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday, Hamilton clinched second place in the East Division.

Many of the Riders’ starters will return to the lineup for the Nov. 28 West semifinal against the visiting Calgary Stampeders.

Home playoff games have become a norm for the Riders in recent years but that wasn’t always the case. From 1989 to 2006, the Riders didn’t host a single playoff game.
But even though neither team can improve their spot in the standings, Harker is ready for the challenge ahead.

“I’m a competitor so I want to win. As far as I’m concerned, we have to win this one. I’m always going to feel that way no matter what the standings are or the implications are because it’s a point of pride,” Harker said.