Fajardo gets added motivation for game with Elks from Jones’ comments

Cody Fajardo didn’t need more fuel to add to the fire in 2022, but some comments by Chris Jones provided an extra spark.

During the off-season, Jones — who is once again the head coach of the Edmonton Elks — said that the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ quarterback isn’t a top-five passer in the league and that offensive co-ordinator Stephen McAdoo played a major role in the success the Riders’ offence had in 2019.

McAdoo is now the offensive co-ordinator in Edmonton.

“I know a lot of it is mind games too. As a quarterback, you have to be that even-keeled guy — you can’t get too high and you can’t get too low,” Fajardo said after the Riders practised Tuesday in advance of Saturday’s CFL clash with the Elks in Edmonton.

“There’s always added motivation when someone doesn’t think you’re as good as you think you are. I’m excited about the opportunity and hopefully I can go out there and play my best.”

While Fajardo said there could be some mind games being played, he doesn’t believe Jones got into his head ahead of the first meeting between the teams since Jones returned to the CFL head-coaching ranks.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is set for 7:30 p.m.

Jones was Edmonton’s head coach in 2014 and ’15 before joining the Riders in 2016. He moved to the NFL’s Cleveland Browns in 2019, but returned to the CFL in 2021 as a defensive assistant for the Toronto Argonauts. Edmonton hired him in the off-season.

“I think there’s a vault (in my head); it’s tough to get in there,” Fajardo said. “I just take it like any other game. I just want to go out there and put good tape on it and get our team in an opportunity to win this game.”

Riders head coach Craig Dickenson took over in Saskatchewan after Jones left. Dickenson believes the comments were more of a compliment to McAdoo than a shot at Fajardo.

“I don’t think Coach Jones was being critical. I think he was trying to defend Coach McAdoo and I think maybe he felt that was a way he could do it,” Dickenson said.

“I don’t think Cody took it personally. I think it was just a comment on Cody’s style of play and I think Cody does what he needs to help us win games.”

Fajardo and the Riders’ offence will look to keep the momentum rolling from the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 30-13 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Despite throwing for only 67 yards in the first half, Fajardo finished the game with 311 yards and a passing touchdown as well as a rushing major.

“I feel like I didn’t play to my potential, which is encouraging to me. I thought I missed some easy throws and that’s something I want to work on during the week,” Fajardo said.

“You always want to go against (Jones’ defence) because he tries to throw you different looks and you see how much you know as a quarterback because there’s a lot of things you’ll see in a Chris Jones defence that you don’t see on a week-to-week basis.”

Fajardo also expects to see a motivated Elks defence after Edmonton lost 59-15 to the B.C. Lions.

“The biggest jump for teams is usually Week 1 to Week 2. There’s a lot that goes into Game 1 — playing fast for the first time — so you don’t put too much stock into it,” Fajardo said.

“They will be much better and last week, you saw all the home teams win and now we have to go on the road and find a way to win a football game.”