Trevor Harris would love to race out through the entrance tunnel at Mosaic Stadium on Friday night when the Saskatchewan Roughriders face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
But the final verdict of the team’s starting quarterback situation won’t come until tomorrow morning in the final hours leading up to the Roughriders home opener.
Harris has been listed as a game-time decision on the team’s depth chart.
On Thursday, he took the reps with the first-team offence ahead of tomorrow’s matchup with Winnipeg.
This comes a day after Mason Fine took the reps at the quarterback position.
At the beginning of the week, Harris felt discomfort with the hip injury following Sunday’s win against Edmonton.
“Sunday night was pretty awful, I could barely sleep, Monday night, same thing, came in here Tuesday, didn’t feel great but as I moved around it started feeling a lot better and then I went out on the field and it didn’t feel good, so we backed off trying to be smart about it. ”
After receiving treatment, the Waldo, Ohio, product hopes to be on the field for the Roughriders in their Week 2 matchup against Winnipeg.
“I feel like I’m good enough today, guess we’ll see how it is tomorrow.”
Head Coach Craig Dickenson says pain tolerance and mobility will be a couple of things that he will discuss with Harris on Friday morning.
“It will truly be how he feels tomorrow, does he feel like he can play effectively and move enough to protect himself.”
There will be plenty of extra adrenaline at Mosaic Stadium with the green and white competing in their first home game in 2023, the 37-year-old quarterback feels even with the extra emotion, tomorrow’s decision will be the best one for the team.
“To me it’s the maturity level of making sure that you know I’m not putting myself in a position to hurt myself further.”
Harris wants to make sure his current injury does not last long-term.
“Instead of a 1-2 week thing, making sure it’s not a 8-10 week thing.”
According to Dickenson, Harris’ availability for the home opener will ultimately depend on medical factors, but as a veteran quarterback, he will also have significant input in the decision.
“He’s (Harris) is going to be heavily involved because he knows his body better than we do. The training staff will have some input in it, he’ll (Harris) have a lot and I’ll have the final say.”
Running back Frankie Hickson says whether it’s Harris or Fine leading the offence against the Blue Bombers, the team will have confidence in the quarterback.
“No matter on who comes out on the field, we have to go out there and execute and perform to the best of our ability.”
If Harris has to sit out this week, he has a lot of faith in Fine.
“Mason’s a really, really smart guy, understands timing, understanding depth, where defenders are supposed to be and what’s supposed to open up with coverage based on certain coverages and I think he’s an accurate thrower of the football. ”
Harris sees a lot of himself in his quarterback counterpart.
“He understands each and every moment, managing football games and striking when the iron is hot in terms of taking your shots when they’re given to you, don’t force shots.”
Practice Notebook
- Defensive back Deontai Williams will replace Nic Marshall at cornerback on Friday. Dickenson is anticipating Marshall’s injury is short term.
- It looks like the Roughriders plans for offensive tackle Philip Blake has been dashed with him dealing with a torn pectoral, Dickenson noted Blake is likely out for the season as the offensive lineman is facing at least a four-month recovery.
- While Derel Walker will miss out on the Roughriders home opener, Dickenson says the wide receiver won’t need surgery
Friday’s coverage on 620 CKRM begins with Countdown to Kickoff at 4:00, Michael Ball and Luc Mullinder will have the call beginning at 7:00.
