Fajardo given day off as Riders prepare for pivotal showdown with Stamps

While Mason Fine took all the first-team reps at Tuesday’s practice, there’s no doubt which quarterback will start this week for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Head coach Craig Dickenson said the coaches elected to give veteran quarterback Cody Fajardo a day off even though the team is coming off its third bye week of the season.

“We had three or four guys we wanted to basically sit and let them get their legs back, so no, he’s not benched,” Dickenson said. “We anticipate (Fajardo) starting on Saturday.

“Trust me, those guys need vet days and a lot of them need some rest. He wasn’t the only one. We took it easy on (linebacker Larry Dean) and (safety Mike Edem). We try our best to try and let those guys get mental reps. They don’t need the physical (reps) at this stage.”

The move to give the 30-year-old Fajardo the extra day off comes as the Riders enter a crucial Saturday showdown with the Calgary Stampeders.

Kickoff for the game at Mosaic Stadium is set for 5 p.m. The Green Zone pre-game show begins at 3 p.m.

Fajardo has started all but one game for the Riders this season, throwing for 3,360 yards with 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

But the Riders have not been able to earn many wins over their past 11 games, winning only two of them. The skid includes a five-game home losing streak.

The Riders, who started the season 4-1-0, are now 6-10-0 and on the brink of being eliminated from the playoffs in a year in which Regina is set to host the Grey Cup. The CFL title game is to be played Nov. 20 at Mosaic Stadium.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-10-0) have a magic number of two to clinch the final East Division playoff spot.

Any combination of Hamilton wins or Saskatchewan losses adding up to two over the final two weeks of the regular season will give the Tiger-Cats the spot and eliminate any possibility of the Roughriders crossing over.

While Dickenson doesn’t expect Fine to start this week, the 25-year-old quarterback said the reps he got Tuesday are important for whenever he is given the chance.

“Just to get the timing. Especially being a backup, you don’t get to throw to receivers like Shaq (Evans), Swerve (Kyran Moore), and (Kian Schaffer-Baker),” Fine said. “Until you’re in there in the fire and guys are moving 100 miles an hour, then you have to think quick and make quick, accurate throws.”

One player the Riders expect to get back into their lineup is running back Jamal Morrow. He has 564 yards rushing and two touchdowns in 10 games this season.

“I’m excited,” said Morrow, who has been dealing with a broken hand. “I feel fresh and I definitely feel like I can give this team a boost of confidence and help us turn that corner and get a W in a must-win situation.”

The team is still without slotback Duke Williams (ankle) and defensive lineman Anthony Lanier II (head); neither of them has played since Aug. 19.

Dickenson said he hopes the two players can return this season, but the chances of either of them playing is slim.