Taylor Shire
Regina Leader-Post
The Saskatchewan Roughriders lineup could look quite different this week.
As the team returned to practice on Monday following Friday’s 27-24 loss to the Montreal Alouettes, there were a few changes to the starting lineup during the walk through as the Green and White (5-4-1) get set to visit the Toronto Argonauts (5-4) on Thursday (5:30 p.m., TSN) in Week 12 of the CFL season.
After being hurt against Montreal, receiver Mitch Picton wasn’t on the field but did appear on the sidelines with crutches and a walking boot on his left leg. Head coach Corey Mace didn’t have an update on the receiver following the workout, but it was listed as an ankle injury on the injury report.
Receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker — who has been out since Week 7 with a shoulder injury — was back on the field working with the starters. Rookie Ajou Ajou, who missed last week with a finger injury, also got reps as he could also make his return this week.
“We’ve got options,” Mace said about his receiving corps. “But we’ve got to make sure with Schaf, just like anybody else, that they’re comfortable enough to actually go out there and bang for real.”
After battling through injury during Friday’s game, running back A.J. Ouellette was limited on Monday as Frankie Hickson got most of the reps with the starters. Ouellette has missed several games this season due to a hip injury before making his return to the lineup last week.
However, there’s a chance the former all-star could be sidelined again this week.
Along the offensive line, there was a new face as the Riders signed American right tackle Trevon Tate on Monday and immediately slotted him into the starting lineup, with Logan Ferland shifting back to his regular right guard spot.
After playing two seasons in Toronto from 2022-23, the 6-foot-4, 295-pound Tate signed with the Calgary Stampeders during free agency this off-season and played four games at right tackle for the Stamps this year while also being a healthy scratch.
The Houston product requested to be released by the Stamps and was let go last week before signing in Saskatchewan, reuniting him with Mace and offensive line coach Edwin Harrison, who were both in Toronto for the last two years.
“It was the best situation possible,” said Tate. “It’s like a sigh of relief to just be able to know I can come to an organization that has a coach that I trust and have been around for the last two seasons.
“I just felt like (Calgary) didn’t respect a lot of the off-field things I had going on. And a lot of things I was told man, was just honestly lies and I just couldn’t take it no more mentally, so it was just like either you guys are going to play me or release me.”
Tate is on track to become the sixth starting right tackle for the Riders this season joining Jermarcus Hardrick, Jacob Brammer, Brandon Council, Nick Jones and Ferland.
To make room for Tate on the roster, the Riders released American quarterback Eric Barriere.
On the defensive side, cornerback Deontai Williams was back working with the starters in place of Amari Henderson, who not only gave up several big plays but also suffered an injury on Friday. Linebacker C.J. Avery (head), linebacker Melique Straker (hamstring) and defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado (head) were also back to practice on Monday after missing last week.
Meanwhile, defensive back Jaxon Ford, who underwent off-season wrist surgery, and linebacker Nick Wiebe, who suffered an ACL injury last season as a member of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, were both on the practice field for the first time this season.
The Riders will hold a closed practice on Tuesday before the team departs for Toronto on Wednesday.
