Heading into the beginning of the 2023 Canadian Football League (CFL) regular season, there were plenty of question marks surrounding the Saskatchewan Roughriders receiving unit.
Even with significant injuries to Derel Walker, Brayden Lenius, Jake Wieneke and Kian Schaffer-Baker continuing to recover from off-season hip surgery, the questions have been answered with exclamation points, led by Tevin Jones and Shawn Bane Jr.
Jones leads the CFL in receiving yards (548) after Week 8 with Bane Jr. right behind in second place (527).
Last season, the former Memphis Tigers’ main contribution to the green and white was on special teams before his offensive ascension in 2023. He credits his patience
“You just got to wait your turn.”
The Armory, Mississippi product has emerged as one of the Roughriders go-to receivers since Derel Walker went down with a knee injury in Week 1 as Jones is fourth overall in targets (53).
Alongside Jones, Bane Jr. has become a multi-dimensional weapon for the green and white. The speedster from Sarasota, Florida leads the league in Yards After Catch (YAC). Bane Jr. is happy that he’s thriving in the Roughriders offensive scheme.
“I try and be a versatile receiver, in and out routes, deep balls, screens or anything.”
Head Coach Craig Dickenson pointed out the pair deserves success this season.
“Those are two of the most popular players in the locker room. ”
Dickenson also noted that Jones and Bane Jr. are two of the hardest-working players inside the Roughriders locker room.
“It shows that hard work pays off.”
On Sunday, when the Roughriders host the Ottawa REDBLACKS, Bane Jr. isn’t concerned about defence keying on him.
“It’s just another day in the office, like I kind of said I put my own target on my back. I hold myself to a certain expectation. ”
With only one touchdown over the last two weeks, hitting the paydirt will be a goal for Saskatchewan against the REDBLACKS Jones says for the Roughriders to find success on gameday, the work begins in practice.
“Just trying to be perfect, I know we’re all not perfect, but that’s what we’re trying to do out here, instead of just practicing, we got to perfect practice.”
Practice Notebook
- Wide receiver Brayden Lenius was absent from practice for a second straight day, Dickenson said if Lenius doesn’t suit up at Friday’s practice, the Roughriders will have to fill his spot with Mitch Picton or the team will have shuffle with their Canadian ratio.
- Picton (head) also missed practice on Thursday.
- Eric Lofton took the first team reps at left tackle with Brandon Council not practicing.
- Mason Fine took the majority of the reps with the first-string offence, Jake Dolegala also received some snaps behind centre with the offence.
