‘Nothing like I’ve ever experienced’: Riders’ Richardson reflects on starting while sick

Kooper Richardson’s first CFL start will be one he will remember — even if it was one that was hard to stomach.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offensive tackle was one of the many players who had to deal with a stomach virus during the team’s 54-20 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Saturday’s Banjo Bowl.

“It’s nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. I’ve been around football a long time and I’ve played a long time,” Richardson said. “(It was) everything from getting an IV 40 minutes before the game to the worst feeling I’ve ever had. I got it on game day so I was in the middle of the sickness when the game was going on.

“(It was a) crazy way to get your first start.”

Richardson could be on track for his second career start with tackle Terran Vaughn expected to miss Friday’s game against the Edmonton Elks. Vaughn has gone home for the birth of his child.

Kickoff for the game at Mosaic Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. The Green Zone pre-game show begins at 5 p.m.

To add to the anxiety of his first start, Richardson had to handle the likes of Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat.

“You want to talk about a crazy way to get your first start against those great defensive ends,” Richardson said. “You do have to worry about the sickness and your mind is going a lot of different places because you’re trying to figure out how you’re going to block those D-ends but how you’re going to make it through the game.”

The entire offensive line was dealing with the stomach virus prior to the Winnipeg game and players were given IVs just to get them out onto the field.

“It was a lifesaver for me. It gave me a sliver of feeling better and once I got that sliver, it was like, ‘OK, it’s game time,’ ” Richardson said.

Despite dealing with the illness, Richardson still feels he was able to play well.

“I’m excited to build on that every game. I know no game is going to be perfect and for what I was able to put out there, I feel like it’s a great stepping stone to build on to the next level,” Richardson said.

Fajardo leaves practice early for birth of son

Normally if Riders starting quarterback Cody Fajardo leaves practice early, it would be a cause for concern.

But on Tuesday, the pivot left early to be with his wife Laura for the birth of their first child, Luca.

“I think baby is coming. We wish them all the best and hopefully he and his wife will have a third member of the family here before long,” Riders head coach Craig Dickenson said.

Dickenson said the timing couldn’t be more perfect with the team having a game on Friday.

“He doesn’t need the extra practice. He’s had plenty of reps. Give those young guys some reps and hopefully she has the baby soon and he can be there for it and when it’s time, he can come back,” Dickenson said. “We will give him what he needs.”

Cody Fajardo leaves practice with cheers and high-fives from his teammates.

Just an assumption but his wife's due date was yesterday so would guess that's related to this early exit. #Riders #CFL pic.twitter.com/NvbmH3fnlc

— Britton Gray (@BrittonGray) September 13, 2022