Harris’ surgery a success, but no timetable for his return: O’Day

The CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders are preparing for a long stretch without their franchise quarterback.

“Trevor (Harris) had his surgery performed and he is recovering from the surgery,” Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day said while providing an update to media at Mosaic Stadium on Tuesday. “He is home recovering with his family.

“We’re excited the surgery went well by all accounts and he is on the road to recovery.”

The 37-year-old pivot was injured Saturday when a member of the Calgary Stampeders rolled on Harris’ right knee as he was twisted to the ground in the fourth quarter of Saskatchewan’s 33-31 loss to the Stamps at Mosaic Stadium.

On Sunday, the Riders reported Harris had suffered a fractured tibial plateau.

O’Day said Harris avoided major ligament damage from the hit.

“For the most part, it was good news outside of he has a lateral meniscus as well that was repaired. Outside of that, it was just the repair of the bone,” O’Day said.

There is no timeline on when Harris could return to the team, if at all, this season.

“It’s definitely going to be a long-term (injury),” O’Day said. “He will be pretty much non-weight-bearing for about six weeks and that will be the longest period of time. From there, he will start on his rehab.

“He is already anxious to come back and help the guys in the meeting rooms and stuff like that. We’re trying to get him to sit tight at home and spend time with his family and let his leg heal up a little bit.”

Harris threw for 1,272 yards, with six touchdowns and four interceptions in five games with the Riders this season.

While the loss of Harris is a big blow to the team, O’Day said it gives the club’s younger quarterbacks a chance to flourish and perhaps become the next CFL star.

“The biggest thing is, as a whole for our league, this is how opportunities are created for guys and how quarterbacks get their opportunity is when somebody get hurts,” O’Day said. “You look at the players in the past, they all needed to opportunity to play, and (Mason Fine) certainly will have his opportunity now.”

The Riders will turn to Fine as the team’s starter. Fine, who is in his third season with Saskatchewan, threw for 116 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Harris in the loss to Calgary.

Fine also started the final two games for the Riders in 2022 after then-starter Cody Fajardo was relegated to the backup role. Fine threw for 364 yards and one touchdown over those two starts – both losses to the Stamps.

“There’s an excitement to that as well. You have the next player that is going to get an opportunity and hopefully does a great job,” O’Day said. “It’s not all on Mason Fine, it’s on everyone on the team.”

O’Day also had positive things to say about the 26-year-old product of Peggs, Okla.

“He’s fiery and he is not afraid of any situation. The game is not too big for him – he’s cool as a cucumber when he’s put in these situations,” O’Day said. “I was standing on the sideline when Trevor went down (Saturday) and I wasn’t sure if Mason had a pulse.

“Even after a couple big drives there and the big play (a 69-yard pass-and-run touchdown to Tevin Jones), he is very calm and collected. I think he’s a confident player.”

Also on the roster are quarterbacks Jake Dolegala and short-yardage quarterback Shea Patterson. O’Day said the Riders don’t have any plans to add another quarterback.

“We’re always going to have conversations and discussions on what is the best course of action going forward, but I don’t anticipate us bringing another quarterback in,” O’Day said. “We have Jake here who we also thought had a really good training camp and Shea Patterson has done a really good job for us as well.”

The Riders face a tough challenge in their first game without Harris leading the offence. Saskatchewan is to travel to Vancouver for a Saturday showdown with the West Division-leading B.C. Lions.