Taylor Shire
Regina Leader-Post
The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be going up against some familiar faces this week.
In Week 5 of the CFL season on Friday (5:30 p.m.), the Roughriders (2-1) will visit the nation’s capital where they will take on the Ottawa Redblacks (0-3), who have several players on their roster from Saskatchewan’s championship team in 2025.
Linebackers C.J. Reavis and A.J. Allen are new Redblacks this season and they are joined by defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado while Ottawa also has former Roughrider kicker Brett Lauther and quarterback Jake Maier, who is expected to make his fourth straight start of the season.
While Maier is with a new team after serving as the backup last year for the Roughriders, there are still some tendencies Saskatchewan’s defence hope to take advantage of.
“I think you could look at some things that we know about him,” said Roughriders head coach Corey Mace. “Obviously going to a different team with different coaches, they might want to change some things that maybe he was doing, but the film will always tell you, at the end of the day, to confirm or deny things that you’re seeing or what you thought.”
After losing 29-21 to Edmonton in Week 1, the Redblacks fell 44-24 to Toronto in Week 3 before narrowly losing 37-35 to the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday, in game that saw Maier throw for 336 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
“I thought last game was a really good one for him,” said Mace. “I think he’s obviously getting more comfortable with the with his guys and in tune with the system, and obviously (head coach and offensive coordinator Ryan Dinwiddie’s) play calling.”
Meanwhile after starting the season 2-0 with wins over B.C. and Calgary, Saskatchewan lost last week 40-34 to the Toronto Argonauts.
And this week as the group looks to rebound, Mace is looking for more from his team.
“To be honest, I would love to see more, I don’t have a better word, like jazz hands,” said Mace. “Just some more enthusiasm from the guys celebrating each other’s success — just some more juice.
“I felt like we were lacking that last week. We know we’ve got great players, we know we can be a great team; just enjoy it and have some fun out there.”
Injury report
After missing Monday’s practice due to injury, receivers Kian Schaffer-Baker (oblique) and Samuel Emilus (ankle) were limited on Tuesday.
Fellow Canadian receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby, who missed last week with a shoulder injury, was a full participant after sitting out Day 1. Additionally, American receiver Jaylen Johnson (shoulder) was a full participant after spectating on Monday.
Returner James Letcher (elbow) missed a second straight day and appears destined for the injured list while running back A.J. Ouellette (ankle) was limited for a second straight day after missing last game.
Safety Nelson Lokombo (ankle) was limited for a second straight day while defensive lineman Ali Saad (calf) was limited after leaving practice early with an injury.
“There’s always a fine line with looking at (injuries),” said Mace. “Every week is so crucial for us, but you’ve got to look at it with a wider lens.
“However, in saying so, if it’s somebody who shows well in practice and says they want to go, I’m not going to stand in the way of that.
“But we’ll see how it rolls out.”
Next man up
Depending on the status of Saskatchewan’s starting group of receivers, there’s a chance the Green and White will have to active a player from the practice roster this week.
And one of those candidates is Mathew Sexton, who could replace Letcher as the primary kick returner this week as well.
“Really just taking it day by day,” said Sexton, 28. “Whenever they put me in, or wherever, I’m there and going to perform.
“We have a standard, not only from a receiver standpoint, from a quarterback standpoint, from a team standpoint, that we set.
“No matter who it is, you show up and do your job.”
Coincidentally enough, if he does play this week, it will be against the same team that released him earlier this year after he attended rookie camp in Ottawa before he was cut on May 9.
“It’d be a full-circle moment for sure,” said Sexton, who signed with the Riders on May 12 before earning a practice roster spot. “If that time comes, I’ll be ready.”
