Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Trevor Harris is not accustomed to being a third-string quarterback as he was when the team faced the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 20.
“You have a role every week, whatever role the team asks you to play, make sure you do it to the best of your ability,” Harris said. “That was where my mindset went as soon as [Corey Mace] told me that I wasn’t playing. Obviously, disappointed, but I get it, I understand.”
Harris did not play because the Riders clinched first place in the West Division and decided to let him rest while playing some backups in a 17-16 loss at Princess Auto Stadium. Since the Green and White locked down first place in the West, Saskatchewan gets a bye through to the West Final. Personally, the 39-year-old is not a fan of sitting on the sidelines.
“It stinks. It takes me back to 2014, 2016, times when I haven’t been playing and it’s not too fun,” Harris said. “There’s always a lesson to learn, so if you close your eyes and say, I can’t wait until this week’s over with, you might miss the lesson that God’s trying to show you or a lesson that the game of football can teach you that week. I had my eyes open, my ears open, made sure that I was ready for whatever came and what I could learn from last week.”
After Harris did not play against the Bombers, it’s expected he could see some playing time against the B.C. Lions on Saturday in the team’s final regular-season game.
“Anytime we get an opportunity to play, it’s always important — the more reps, the better,” Harris said. “I’ve told you guys in preseason, I’ve told Mace, let me play three-and-a-half quarters, and if it’s close, leave me in. That’s how I feel now.”
Harris prepares to suit up for his 17th game in 2025, which is the most since 2022 when he dressed 18 games with the Montreal Alouettes. In 2023, he played five games for the Riders as his season was cut short due to a knee injury and in 2024 he played 12 games due to a partially torn ACL.
“Available for all 18 was always the mindset. Unfortunately, I got dinged in the head earlier this year and missed one and I feel like I still could have played then. It still eats at me, but it is what it is,” Harris said.
“We’re in a good spot to be where we are, that’s our job as professionals is to be available and to give your team hope in a position that we’re in. I feel like we’re in a good spot right now, Jake [Maier] has got a couple good games under his belt in the worst-case scenario. I feel good about where we are as an offence, getting into the West Final where we want to get to and playing our best football is our aim at this point. Let’s make sure we have a great week of practice, go out there and execute on game day.”
That one game Harris was referring to was in Week 4, he did not play against the Lions due to a head injury as Saskatchewan won 37-18. Saturday marks the third time the Riders and the Lions will play during the 2025 regular season. The second time was in Week 7 which the Roughriders won 33-27.
The six-foot-three, 212-pound QB has played 16 games for the Green and White in 2025. Harris has completed 73 percent of his passes for 4,437 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. It’s the most touchdowns he has thrown since 2018 with the Ottawa Redblacks (22).
Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk, and Wes Cates bring you the pre-game show at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder have the game call at 5 p.m. Listen to or watch our detailed coverage on the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network.
