Fajardo to play in Riders’ pre-season finale against the Lions

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo plans to play his first game of the 2022 season like it’s the final game of the 2022 CFL campaign.

“Obviously the 18-game regular season is more important than the pre-season games, but the competitor side in me wants to win the football game or put our team in a situation to win the game,” Fajardo said in advance of Friday’s pre-season game against the host B.C. Lions.

“Being smart is definitely something that’s in the back of your mind, but I feel like when guys try to be too safe or too smart, that’s when injuries occur. When you get to play the way you normally play and your body’s used to that, that’s when you play the safest.

“So I’m going to out there (Friday) and I’m going to give it everything I have just like it’s the Grey Cup.”

Fajardo didn’t play in Tuesday’s 25-16 loss to the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers, so he’s to make his 2022 debut Friday. He’s scheduled to play the first half of the game in Vancouver, while Mason Fine and Jake Dolegala will split the second half duties.

Fajardo says he can’t wait to get back out onto the field.

“For me, the pre-season is something where you try some new things,” he said. “It’s not all going to go great. There are going to be some bad plays (and) there are going to be some great plays, but there are some things you can try — especially with the new hash marks.”

Fajardo thinks the hash marks being placed closer to the middle of the field will have him getting more creative come game time.

“I’m really excited to see it with live bullets,” he said. “There are some things I’ve been eager to try and do something a little bit different that I wouldn’t do in a normal regular-season game and see what I can get away with and what I can’t get away with.”

With Fajardo being such a competitive guy on the field, some wonder if he should dial it back a little bit. Head coach Craig Dickenson said that won’t be coming from the coaching staff.

“We want to play hard this first half, and the second half is going to be just as competitive because it’s going to be guys that are trying to make our team,” Dickenson said.

“We’re going to let (Fajardo) play. I think sometimes as coaches, we cause more harm than good when we tell him to dial it back. We want him to play hard, be smart like he always should be, but compete hard and treat this like you would any other game.”

Jamal Morrow is battling with other tailbacks for the starter’s job and he said it has been fun going head to head with them during training camp.

The game in Vancouver is another opportunity to win that job, but Morrow and his fellow backs have to balance being teammates while competing with each other.

“You don’t ever hate on or envy a guy; you always support,” Morrow said. “If you see somebody else do well, that’s going to push you to do better as well.

“I kind of feel like it’s a domino effect. If all running backs play at a high level, it obviously pushes the team and other position groups to play at a high level as well.”

With this being the final pre-season game on the Roughriders’ schedule, Dickenson says he wants to see his team improve from the game Tuesday.

“I want our guys to play a little better than they did the first game, be a little sharper in all phases and just compete hard,” he said.

“I think B.C.’s going to play their starters for at least a half and we’re going to do the same, so (the first half) should be a real good indicator of where we’re at.”

Dickenson said there were a couple of things he’d like to see his team do well against the Lions.

“I want to see Cody and that offense jelling and moving down the field in rhythm,” he said. “I want to play a clean game. I thought we did a decent job in the first pre-season game. I’d like to see our special teams play a little better and defensively I’d like to see us win some matchups in the pass rush.”

Linebacker Micah Teitz is expected to be placed on the six-game injured list according to Dickenson, while linebacker Derrick Moncrief and defensive end A.C. Leonard won’t make the trip because of injuries. They’re both expected to be in the lineup for the Riders’ home opener next Saturday.

Left tackle Terran Vaughn will also make his return to the Riders’ lineup Friday night.

Dickenson relished the opportunity to speak about how important Vaughn’s presence is in the locker room.

“He loves being a part of a team and loves that locker room. We need him. We felt it when we didn’t have him last year,” Dickenson said. “He has really grown as a person. He’s very athletic, strong and got some toughness too him. I hope he has a good game and good year.”

Cuts are expected to be made Saturday and, while the process will mean a late night for Dickenson and his staff, he hopes it’s difficult.

“Hopefully it’s really hard,” Dickenson said. “That means we’ve got a good team.”

Kickoff for the game on TSN is set for 8 p.m. The Green Zone pre-game show starts at 6 p.m., and the post-game show begins immediately after the contest.