Riders to tackle Argos with Patterson at the helm

Shea Patterson is feeling confident ahead of his first CFL start.

“The only time you get nervous, or feel like the nerves are too much, is when you haven’t put in the work,” said Patterson.

“I feel like I have prepared myself, and the coaches have prepared me, and everyone in the room is ready to play.

“I think the nerves might be excitement. I’m ready to get out there and play with my brothers.”

The 27-year-old quarterback will get the start for the Saskatchewan Roughriders as they take on the Toronto Argonauts on Thursday. The change comes after starting quarterback Trevor Harris was put on the six-game injured list.

Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.

Harris suffered what the team is calling a moderate MCL injury in the Riders’ 36-20 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on June 23. Harris got the Riders to a 3-0 start in 2024, and the Roughriders will look to move to a 4-0 record for the first time since 2013.

Patterson, who played for the Ole Miss Rebels and Michigan Wolverines, last started a game in the USFL back in 2022 when he split time between the Michigan Panthers and New Orleans Breakers.

The Toledo, Ohio, product said he’s grown a lot since that time.

“I feel like each step and every opportunity you have following the last one, you go to another level and you reflect on that year of preparation,” Patterson explained.

“You go to the next year and you’re like, ‘OK, how can I get better and be ready for certain things?’”

In his CFL career, Patterson has completed eight of 16 passes for 73 yards. When he came in for the injured Harris in the game against Hamilton, Patterson completed four of 10 passes for 41 yards.

The last five quarterbacks to make their first start for the Riders have gone 1-4, with the win recorded by Harris in 2023.

Despite Patterson not throwing many passes in the league, head coach Corey Mace has faith in his quarterback and doesn’t believe they will need to change much when it comes to offence.

“It’s just more of executing the things that we feel put us in the best position to win,” Mace said. “We’re instilling confidence in Shea to get that done. He has proven and showed that he was able to do that throughout the week.”

The Riders passing offence is going against an Argos defence that is giving up 346 yards per game through the air – the most in the CFL.

But Toronto does bring in a stout rushing defence, only giving up 40 yards per game. Only the Riders are giving up less on the ground, with 32.7 yards per game.

Riders’ running back AJ Ouellette will take on Toronto for the first time since joining the CFL. He posted a season-high 98 yards against the Ti-Cats.

Some other new faces joining the Riders’ offence this week are wide receiver KeeSean Johnson and running back Frankie Hickson.

Hickson comes in for the injured Thomas Bertrand-Hudon (head) while Johnson is playing because slotback Shawn Bane Jr. is missing the game for personal reasons.

Meanwhile, the Riders’ defence will need to deal with Ka’Deem Carey, who’s the CFL’s leading rusher coming into the week with 230 yards and a touchdown.

“He’s a tough runner. He is quick and shifty, but when you lay that hat on them, it can slow anybody down,” said Riders’ defensive end Malik Carney.

“That’s our job and our mindset – get as many hats on him and get him down.”

The Argos are also starting an inexperienced quarterback in Cameron Dukes. Dukes, who has started the Argos’ first three games due to a suspension to Chad Kelly, has a 2-1 record this season and a 3-2 record as a starter in his career.

“He can do a little bit of everything, so we just have to keep him compressed into that pocket and get him down as best as we can,” Carney said.

With the Riders now a few weeks into their first season under Mace, the first-time head coach said he believes a solid foundation has been built, and now the team is building upwards.

“Every week is going to present something that is going to be a challenge. How you respond always kind of gives you an idea of where you need to work or where you need to move on from, because you answered the questions already,” Mace said.

“We’re rolling into a game with our new starting quarterback. Are we ready for that? I personally think we are, and I think we think we are ready for that. We shall see.”