More Riders players test positive for COVID, leaving next game in doubt

While Saturday’s CFL game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and visiting Toronto Argonauts is expected to go on as scheduled, time is running out.

The Riders have had several more players test positive for COVID-19 since Tuesday.

Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day said that as of Wednesday, 13 players and five staff members had tested positive, with 10 players still in the CFL’s COVID protocol.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is scheduled for 5 p.m.

O’Day said the team is in constant communication with the league when it comes to the situation.

“We’re not at the point where we are changing or postponing any games right now, but it is getting close to the point where it becomes difficult to have a game if you haven’t had enough time to practise or make sure you have enough players to put on the roster,” O’Day said during a conference call with the media Wednesday.

The game Saturday was set to be a rematch between the two teams after the Argos posted a 30-24 win over the Riders during Touchdown Atlantic in Wolfville N.S., last Saturday.

O’Day said the Roughriders had been testing the entire team in the days prior to travelling to Halifax and everyone who went on the trip had tested negative.

On the trip, one player started feeling symptoms on Saturday. Despite testing negative at the time, that player was isolated from the team.

O’Day said the Roughriders flew back from Nova Scotia on Saturday and then tested players and staff on Sunday, which revealed more positives.

According to a statement from the team issued Wednesday morning, the new infections led to the cancellation of Wednesday’s practice. The Roughriders had cancelled Tuesday’s workout as well.

O’Day said things have been 50/50 when it came to if people testing positive have been dealing with symptoms.

“We’ve had some players that come in and test positive that are just very shocked. The first player that alerted us to it was symptomatic; the player who tested positive on Saturday was symptomatic,” O’Day said.

“It’s a tough situation. No one’s doing anything wrong. There’s no one to blame. It’s something that we’re going through. It’s disappointing and we had hoped we were going to try and avoid and get through the season without an outbreak like this. (The players) are staying positive but they really just want to know what’s next.”

O’Day said when players are in the building at Mosaic Stadium, they are masked and social distancing. Once the players leave, they live like anyone else in the province.

If no new cases show up Thursday, O’Day said there’s a chance the Roughriders could return to the field.

“It is still possible but with each day that goes, it becomes a little bit more difficult. The bigger question is are we seeing the end of it or are we going to continue to get more cases? If we get cases now, those players are ruled out to play in a game in a couple days,” O’Day said.

According to the statement issued Wednesday, the Riders are following all of the CFL’s COVID protocols, and are in regular contact with the league’s medical committee for guidance.