Opportunity knocks: Plenty of new faces on Riders’ roster for Sunday’s game

They’re unique circumstances, but Sunday’s CFL game provides an opportunity like no other for a number of Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Riders will have six players — safety Vincent Dethier, linebacker Justin Rice, defensive end Alain Cimankinda, wide receiver Dieuly Aristilde Jr., offensive lineman Josiah St. John and quarterback Jake Dolegala — making their season debut in a rematch against the Toronto Argonauts.

Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m. The Green Zone pre-game show begins at 3 p.m.

“I’m not going to lie, I might cry after the game. I cried after my last college football game just being unsure (of the future) but now being here and being a part of the Roughriders and just this entire organization, it feels great,” said Aristilde Jr., who has been on the practice roster for the first six games of the 2022 season.

Aristilde Jr. appeared in both pre-season games for the Riders, hauling in two catches for 32 yards and a touchdown.

“It means the world to me just to get my first CFL start. It may not be the way I wanted it, but it’s an opportunity nonetheless and I can’t be mad,” Aristilde Jr.

It’s also a chance for a couple of players to prove the team made a mistake releasing them earlier this year.

Cimankinda was signed on Thursday after being let go before training camp.

“It means everything for me. It was a blessing in disguise because I wasn’t able to have a proper off-season when I was back home because I was still recovering from my (hamstring) injury,” Cimankinda said. “It was disappointing but I understood it’s a business. I wasn’t where I wanted to be myself.

“You’ve always got to be ready whenever. The game of football is the game of next man up. Everyone needs to do their job … This is an interview for me — not just for this team, but for the rest of the league.”

The moves come because the Riders are dealing with a COVID outbreak that cancelled the first two days of practice and knocked out several players due to illness: Fullback Albert Awachie, defensive tackle Charbel Dabire, kicker Henry Nell, defensive back Nick Marshall, slotback Justin McInnis, quarterback Cody Fajardo and offensive tackle Terran Vaughn. Fajardo is also dealing with a knee injury.

With backup Mason Fine missing most of the week while in COVID protocol — he made his first appearance of the week at Saturday’s walkthrough — it will be Jake Dolegala making his first CFL start after spending the first six games of the year as a healthy scratch.

“It’s huge. I’m just looking forward to the opportunity to get out there and play the game I love,” Dolegala said.

With Shaq Evans (ankle), Kyran Moore (ACL), Jakob Prall (shoulder), Mitch Picton (ankle) and Jake Harty (shoulder) out and with Duke Williams serving a one-game suspension, it’s almost an entirely new group of receivers for the Riders.

Slotback Kian Schaffer-Baker leads the way with 18 CFL games played, with Mario Alford bringing 16 of his own into the game. Outside of those two, the other receivers are CFL newcomers in their first seasons: Aristilde Jr., Tevin Jones and Sam Emilus.

Emilus has appeared in five games, mostly as a returner with his first start at receiver last week. Jones has appeared in three games with Saskatchewan.

“I had a lot of reps with these guys in pre-season. Schaffer-Baker knows his stuff and it’s going to be great having him out there,” Dolegala said.

Injuries are also affecting the Riders, with defensive end A.C. Leonard added to the six-game injured list due to a shoulder injury. Defensive end Charleston Hughes will return to the active lineup with the injury to Leonard.

Along with Cimankinda, Dethier was brought back to the team on Thursday. Rice signed July 12, prior to the team’s 30-24 loss to the Argos during Touchdown Atlantic on July 16.

St. John is making his season debut after suffering a knee injury in training camp.

Defensive back Amari Henderson is back in the lineup as well after missing a game with an illness. Halfback Rolan Milligan also returns to the lineup after being a late scratch last week.