‘End of a chapter’: Benching puts Fajardo’s future with Riders in doubt

With the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 2022 season hanging by a thread, Cody Fajardo’s future with the CFL team is equally tenuous.

The team announced Wednesday that Mason Fine will start at quarterback in a pivotal showdown Saturday with the Calgary Stampeders, with the 30-year-old Fajardo relegated to the backup role.

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

The benching comes as the Riders need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive — and in a contract year for Fajardo.

“I hope there’s somebody out there that might still want me,” Fajardo said when asked about being demoted during a contract year. “I don’t think it’s the end of the Cody Fajardo football book; I think it just might be the end of a chapter. It’s tough to say, you never know, but it’s difficult to go out like this, in your last home game, and not be able to start.

“I love everybody in this building. This organization gave me an opportunity to play and (was) the first organization that gave me confidence and pride and took pride in me. It’s bittersweet and it’s going to be a tough, difficult off-season. I need to think and take time with my wife — I have a baby now — so I’ve got to take a lot of things into account.

“I don’t think my playing days are over and I hope I can stay in the CFL for more years to come.”

Fajardo has thrown for 3,360 yards with 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in the 2022 season.

Head coach Craig Dickenson said the move to Fine doesn’t indicate one way or another if it will lead to Fajardo leaving in the off-season.

“He knows that he’s got great value (and) that he’s an important part of this team,” Dickenson said. “I’m sure the year hasn’t gone as well as he’s expected it — or I have (expected). There will be some conversations after the year and we’ll go from there. But this is more of a, ‘Hey, let’s find a way to get a spark and see if we can win a couple games.’ ’’

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.

Fine has not started a CFL game in his two seasons in Saskatchewan, throwing for 390 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions as the backup.

“It’s difficult for me, but I’m here to support the team (and with) two weeks left, I’ll try to do everything we can to win football games and whatever they’re going to ask me to do and if I even get some playing time in the game, I’ll be ready (and) I’ll be prepared. I’m preparing like I’m the starter,” Fajardo said.

“The only thing is when you’re the captain of a ship and it’s going down, you want to go down with it. That’s the only thing that’s unfortunate is I’m not going to be able to be out there with my guys to finish out the year.”

Dickenson said Tuesday that Fajardo was being given a “vet day,” which was why Fine took most of the reps that day.

“It was unfortunate that everyone thought I was taking a vet day after a bye week,” Fajardo said Wednesday. “I’ve played through a lot worse and some people were hounding me for taking a day off.

“But I’m going to go out there and I’m going to give everything I have like I have for the last four years and give everything I’ve got to this organization. We’ll see what’s in the future for me, but I’m excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Dickenson said he told the quarterbacks over the bye week the team would be making the move to Fine in order to provide a spark for the offence.

“That’s his decision and that’s why he’s the head man,” Fajardo said. “I feel like this ‘spark’ term is only used with quarterbacks. You can’t change out a defensive back or a linebacker or a lineman or a running back; that doesn’t create anything. If you change the quarterback, it’s usually what creates a spark.

“I’ve heard it over the years many times, I’ve been a part of it and I’ve seen other people be a part of it and it just always seems like the quarterback is the spark situation. Obviously I’m going to disagree because I want to be out there with my guys, but it gives Mason a great opportunity to go out there and play and try to earn a spot.

“Obviously there’s a lot of stuff up in the air in this off-season and hopefully I’ll be right there with him to help him out any way I can and hopefully, we can win this football game.”