With the way things were looking on the injury front earlier in the week for the Sasktchewan Roughriders, it appeared as if this week’s depth chart was in for a beating.
But in the end, the team will have relatively few changes heading into Sunday’s Labour Day Classic showdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium.
That’s naturally a positive for Riders coach Corey Mace and crew, and the situation remains the same even if the contest is the biggest game of the regular season.
“We talked about it to a bunch of guys about who their rival was in college, and this has that same vibe,” Mace said. “But ultimately, it's going to come down to the same thing it always does for us, just details and execution. In this league you got to be on it, or else you're going to find yourself in a tough position.”
Receiver Johnny Johnson III is the lone starter returning to the lineup, as he has recovered from a concussion and is back at slotback.
Johnson’s return also led to a shift in the receiving corps, as Dhel Duncan-Busby moves from slot to wide receiver and Shemar Bridges moves to the reserve roster.
Regina product Jaxon Ford also makes his return at safety after healing from an ankle ailment and will back up Nelson Lokombo.
Also getting into the lineup are defensive linemen Aaron Patrick and Devin Adams, both of whom come off the practice roster.
The news wasn’t all good, as linebacker Nick Wiebe moves to the one-game with a knee ailment and linebacker Josh Woods does the same with an ankle injury.
One other change sees defensive lineman Desmond Evans move to the practice roster.
Running back A.J. Ouellette had been listed as questionable as he is in the final stages of recovering from a knee injury but remains out of the lineup this week.
Kian Schaffer-Baker still hasn’t participated in a full practice with the team since sustaining a knee injury Aug. 1 in Edmonton. Mace told reporters that Schaffer-Baker’s injury isn’t season-ending and that the star receiver has made progress toward getting back on the field.
“I think pretty close (to returning to the lineup),” Mace said. “We’ll see. Ultimately, I wasn’t smart enough to be a doctor, so I’ll lean on that. But I’m hoping sometime soon.”
The Rider Broadcast Network will have all the action on Sunday beginning with the pregame show at 2 p.m. Teagan Witko and Wes Cates will be joined by plenty of special guests, and Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder will have the game call at 5 p.m.
