Riders head to Ottawa for 5:30 p.m. clash with Redblacks Thursday

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are out east on a short week to try and get back into the win column.

Saskatchewan will take on the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday. Kickoff for the game is set for 5:30 p.m.

The Riders are coming off a big loss to the Edmonton Elks, giving up 276 rushing yards in the 42-31 decision. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Redblacks are coming off a bye week and carry a 5-2 record into the game against Saskatchewan’s mark of 5-3.

Edmonton’s 276 rushing yards on the ground were the fourth-most by any team since 2010.

TD Place hasn’t been kind to the Riders, losing the last three times Saskatchewan has played in the nation’s capital. The last win by the Green and White in Ottawa was Sept. 29, 2017 – an 18-17 victory.

“When we don’t do our job, we lose,” said linebacker CJ Reavis. “Every guy in the locker room knows that loss is on us individually as a whole and as a group. I don’t want to say we weren’t prepared but our attention to detail just lacked a little bit.”

Injury setbacks

While it’s inevitable a CFL club will deal with injuries throughout the grueling 18-game season, the Riders have been having a run of bad luck over recent weeks.

In this contest, the Riders will be without linebacker Jameer Thurman (elbow) and offensive guard Ryan Sceviour (elbow) as both were added to the six-game injured list. That list already includes the likes of quarterback Trevor Harris (knee), offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick (quad), offensive guard Philip Blake (quad), and slotback Kian Schaffer-Baker.

That means it’s next man up for the Riders at a number of different positions.

“You should always be preparing every man in your room to get ready to play a football game,” said Riders offensive line coach Edwin Harrison. “That’s why you’re here, that’s why you’re a coach and that’s why they are here – to play football. That’s why guys sign contracts up here, they didn’t sign contracts to do scout team. They signed a contract to play football.

The Riders offensive line has been one of the more injured units in the CFL. They will start their 10^th different starter this week with Zack Fry and Nick Jones both making their first starts in the league.

Fry was a second round (16^th overall) in the 2022 CFL draft due to a standout career with the Western Mustangs. Jones played three seasons at Mississippi state prior to coming to the CFL.

“I think it’s what (head coach Corey) Mace has done a great job of, especially in the offseason – just getting the right guys in the building and getting that depth in there,” said Riders quarterback Shea Patterson, who is making his sixth straight start. “That’s kind of the mould of each and every single guy on this team is. You never like to see someone get injured but the next guy has always got to step up and do his job.

“I have complete faith in whoever that would be.”

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris has been on the six-game injured list due to an MCL sprain. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson)

Harris was cleared to return to practise this week, clearing the way for him to play in the Riders Aug. 16 game at Mosaic Stadium against the Montreal Alouettes.

The Riders will start linebacker C.J. Avery for Thurman this week and Dhonte Meyers will make his CFL regular-season debut this week, coming onto the roster for the injured KeeSean Johnson (head).

Saskatchewan also signed fullback Albert Awachie on Wednesday and added him to the roster to play Thursday. Awachie spent six seasons in Saskatchewan before signing with the Toronto Argonauts this past offseason. He was released by Toronto after playing seven games for the double blue.

Frankie Hickson will also make a third straight start for AJ Ouellette. Hickson is averaging 103 yards per game in those first two starts while averaging 7.4 yards per carry.

The Riders’ defence has been the best in the CFL this season when it comes to taking the ball away, forcing 22 turnovers.

If Saskatchewan wins, the Riders would jump into first place in the CFL West Division.