Riders’ Schaffer-Baker remaining patient as season debut nears

A returning weapon soon could be at the disposal of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ aerial attack.

Kian Schaffer-Baker has practised for two full days as the Riders get ready to host the B.C. Lions on Sunday. Kickoff for the CFL game is set for 5 p.m.

The 25-year-old receiver underwent hip surgery in the off-season and hasn’t dressed for a game in 2023. But he’s taking a cautious approach to returning to the lineup.

“The original date has always been Labour Day so I’d say I’m feeling ahead of things, but you can’t rush those things,” Schaffer-Baker said. “A lot goes into (rehabbing) and you would hate to see things get ruined just off being a little too eager to get out there.

“I’m just taking things one step at a time.”

Riders head coach Craig Dickenson won’t say if the talented Canadian slotback will join the roster this week.

“He had a decent day (Thursday). I thought he was better (Wednesday) so we’ll look at the film and see if he stepped back (Thursday) or see if he stepped forward,” Dickenson said.

The former Guelph Gryphon was taken by the Riders in the fourth round of the 2020 CFL draft. Since then, the Mississauga, Ont., product has become one of the premier Canadian talents in the CFL.

In 30 regular-season games, he has 115 catches for 1,523 yards and seven touchdown. In the 2021 playoffs, he added six catches for 43 yards and a touchdown in two games.

Schaffer-Baker was named the Riders’ most outstanding rookie in 2021 and followed it up by being named the team’s most outstanding Canadian in 2022.

While he has been recovering, Schaffer-Baker admits it has been tough to sit and watch from the sidelines.

“It’s the hardest thing every day,” he said. “The relentless mindset you have just has you itching every single day just to get back out there.

“I’m on the side working by myself and eager to get back in and now it’s finally coming to fruition and I’m eager to start.”

Schaffer-Baker will join a Riders passing attack that has averaged 278.3 yards per game this season, the third-highest average in the CFL entering the week.

The slotback could also provide a big scoring threat for Saskatchewan, which has 10 passing touchdowns thus far — the fourth-most in the league entering the week.

“It’s exciting. We have been waiting for this day for a long time,” Riders offensive co-ordinator Kelly Jeffrey said. “Hopefully practice goes well and he’s healthy and still feels good and is comfortable.

“If so, it’s a weapon I think we are really excited about.”

Notes: Defensive end Anthony Lanier II (shoulder) returned to practice after missing Wednesday’s session … Dickenson wasn’t happy with the intensity he saw from the team during Thursday’s workout. “I didn’t think it was great. Maybe it’s just me but I think we can do better,” Dickenson said. “We want to demand perfection from the players and I challenge the players to demand the same thing from the coaches. We have to coach them hard and try to be as good as we possible can be. We can’t be OK with just being OK, we have to push and try to get better.” … Defensive lineman Miles Brown and offensive tackle Eric Lofton had a heated exchange during a portion of Thursday’s practice. “It’s stupid. It’s a distraction and you don’t do it during the game so you shouldn’t do it in practice,” Dickenson said. “I didn’t see it but we have to grow up as a team and we have to get to work. We don’t have time to be arguing.”