Gainey good to go as Roughriders head to Vancouver

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will get a boost to their defensive backfield for their showdown with one of the CFL’s best quarterbacks.

Halfback Ed Gainey will play in Friday’s game against the B.C. Lions and quarterback Michael Reilly. Kickoff for the game in Vancouver is set for 8:30 p.m.

“We knew Ed was dealing with a toe (injury) and we were hopeful that he would heal up to where he could play,” Riders head coach Craig Dickenson said after walkthrough at Mosaic Stadium on Thursday. “He’s gotten better each and every day.

“It’s good to get a veteran guy like Ed back there. Even if he’s not 100 per cent, his experience makes up for some of the ailments that he has been facing.”

Gainey has missed the past two games due to the turf toe injury suffered in the Labour Day Classic.

“Anytime you hit it the wrong way or plant the wrong way, it flares up again,” Gainey said. “I’m good. It’s something that I’ll have to fight through.”

Gainey admitted it was hard to be on the sideline during the Riders’ 30-16 win over the Toronto Argonauts last Friday.

“I was going to be out there trying to play with a messed-up toe last week. If it wasn’t for the coaches, I’d be out there fighting tooth and nail but sometimes you’ve got to do what’s best for yourself and what’s best for the team,” Gainey said.

Defensive back Blace Brown was questionable with a knee injury all week, but he is also expected to play.

The defence will face a B.C. offence that has found its groove over recent games, and a major part of that has been a rejuvenated Reilly. After starting the season with an elbow injury, Reilly has passed for 1,601 yards and eight touchdowns.

“He’s been slinging it for sure. He’s been getting his mojo back and he looks as healthy as ever,” Saskatchewan linebacker Micah Teitz said.

The Riders’ offence will see a change as left tackle Brett Boyko returns to the starting lineup due to an ankle injury to Andrew Lauderdale. Boyko was the team’s starter in the first game of the year, which was a 33-29 win over the Lions.

Boyko missed the second game of the season due to an illness and hasn’t started since.

“I’m happy to be back on the mend so that’s No. 1 for me,” Boyko said. “It was kind of a tough few weeks there.”

The Riders and Lions both come into the game with 4-2 records so Friday’s matchup will give the winner an advantage in the West Division standings.

Notes: Defensive back A.J. Hendy has been moved to the one-game injured list. Dickenson said Hendy has been dealing with a few minor injuries so they are giving him the week to heal … The Riders announced they had signed defensive lineman Nick Coe. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound defender spent four years at Auburn and had 71 tackles, nine sacks and two forced fumbles over three seasons. He joined the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2020 before signing with the Miami Dolphins. He spent the 2020 season on the Dolphins’ practice roster.