The CFL is taking a page from the NFL when it comes to games being cancelled as a result of COVID-19.
On Tuesday, the league said if a COVID-19 outbreak results in a game not being played, the team that is responsible will forfeit the game. If that team can’t prove that 85 percent of its players have been vaccinated then those players will not be paid for that contest.
It is a move that caught the attention of Riders head coach Craig Dickenson.
“They definitely mean business.” Dickenson told reporters on Tuesday. “When you read that memo, there is not a lot of grey matter. The guys know its for real. The league isn’t messing around. They want teams to be 85 percent vaccinated and this is a way I think you will see that the teams who aren’t there will get there fast if they are going to take a financial hit.
Three teams are at the 85 percent mark, but Dickenson says the Riders are not one of the three. He does say though that they are very close.
NOTES: Jordan Reaves and Mattland Riley did not practice on Tuesday. Reaves is suffering from some Achilles tightness while Riley is ill. Receiver Justin McInnis was limited due to a hamstring problem. Dickenson said Isaac Harker will be the back-up quarterback to Cody Fajardo in Friday’s season opener against B.C (7:30 p.m CKRM). As for Paxton Lynch, it is not known what the plan is for him as he made the active roster. CFL teams are only allowed to dress two quarterbacks this season. If an emergency quarterback is needed, that would be defensive back Nick Marshall. Marshall has plenty of experience under center as he played quarterback at Auburn University.
