The Saskatchewan Roughriders won’t have Tevaughn Campbell in the lineup for Friday’s game against the Calgary Stampeders, but they’re getting a receiver back into the starting mix.
Daniel Wiebe returns to the starting lineup after missing the last two games with a head injury and will start at wide receiver. Dylan Djete moves to a backup role, while D’Sean Mimbs has been demoted to the practice roster.
Wiebe has 11 receptions for 203 yards and a touchdown in his rookie CFL campaign after moving on from the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
“I’m trying to come in every day and get a little bit better,” he told Voice of the Roughriders Dave Thomas earlier this week.
Weakside linebacker Josh Woods and running back Quali Conley have been activated from ankle and wrist injuries, respectively, and are slotted behind Aubrey Miller Jr. and A.J. Ouellette.
Defensive end Jaylen Pate gets a bump from the practice roster to a backup spot behind James Vaughters with Derick Roberson moved to the one-game injured list with a knee problem. Devin Adams has also been shuffled to the practice roster.
Kick returner James Letcher Jr. is now on the six-game injured list with a shoulder ailment. Wiebe, Johnny Johnson III, and Conley will be used to fill in for Letcher, Riders coach Corey Mace said.
“Even though Letch has been our returner pencilled in when he’s healthy, we’ve had a turnstile of guys always taking reps, doing it anyways in preparation for anything like this to happen,” Riders coach Corey Mace said. “We have guys that are capable of doing it, and doing it, we believe, at a high level. We’re going to lean on those guys to get that done.”
Campbell, the star cornerback, isn’t ready to play yet from his forearm injury after being listed as questionable in the team’s injury report on Wednesday. That isn’t a huge surprise considering Campbell wasn’t a full participant in practice this week.
He’ll miss his eighth straight game. A return on Thanksgiving against the Montreal Alouettes is a more likely scenario.
“I’m pretty confident that I’m going to come back pretty soon here,” Campbell said on Monday.
In addition to Campbell’s continued absence, the secondary could be in some flux with halfback DaMarcus Fields listed as a game-time decision. Marcus Sayles stays in the other half position.
Dawson Hodge remains the kicker for now. Brett Lauther was reacquired by the Riders from Ottawa on Wednesday, but Mace said he won’t boot the ball against the Stampeders.
“He got in pretty late last night,” Mace said. “I don’t think it would be fair to the football team, quite honestly, to just toss him out there without an extensive work of operation with a new snapper and a new holder. Dawson’s been on it this week.
“I thought it was the right thing to do for the football team, and for Brett, too.”
