Rookie Johnny Johnson III recorded his first career 100-yard game in Saskatchewan’s win over Ottawa
Taylor Shire, Regina Leader-Post
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have their own version of Johnson & Johnson-level smoothness.
American receivers KeeSean Johnson and Johnny Johnson III both had career nights for the Green and White in Friday’s 42-20 win over the Ottawa Redblacks, which improved Saskatchewan’s record to 6-2 heading into Saturday’s road game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
KeeSean, a 29-year-old third-year receiver, had a career-high 11 catches for 133 yards while Johnny, a 27-year-old rookie playing in his fifth CFL game, recorded seven catches for 117 yards — both career highs.
“You put in work all off-season, and then when you get here you put in work, so it’s just good to see it put on film on a game day,” Johnny said of his performance. “And, you know, it can’t happen without the guys around me.
“Great feeling for all of us.”
As the Roughriders continue to play without two of their top receivers in Kian Schaffer-Baker and Samuel Emilus, who are both on the six-game injured list, others including Johnny, D’Sean Mimbs and Dylan Djete, who also had career games on Friday, are being asked to step up.
Then there’s KeeSean who, despite already being near the top of the CFL in targets, is taking more on his shoulders.
“Of course,” he said. “But I also knew that we had a lot of guys that could make a lot of plays in our room.
“We preach that week in and week out and we hold everybody to a high standard within practice.”
While KeeSean, with 714 yards this season in eight games, has evolved into a dependable receiver in his three years since joining the Riders, Johnny, with 205 yards in five games, is appreciating the opportunity to make a name for himself with an expanded workload.
“Not by the fall of my guys. I’m not excited that they’re hurt,” said Johnny, who started the year on the practice roster before being activated in Week 5. “But definitely taking advantage of the opportunity. That’s the reason I came here was to make plays and help this team win.”
But that doesn’t mean his approach has changed.
“I think I can just approach the day the same,” said Johnny, who has also recorded seven kickoff returns for 230 yards in the last three games. “I look at a game day just like another Tuesday of practice. So approaching it the same way, regardless of how many balls you’re getting, getting extra after practice, it’s all just habits at the end of the day.
“When it comes down to crunch time, you rely on those habits, and that’s all you get.
“For me, game day is always just going with the flow,” he continued. “I never try to (think about targets) because then I get focused on myself too much, right, instead of my job for every play, and I’m thinking about when am I going to get the ball, what are my numbers, how many yards I have, you know, all those things.
“Kind of just going with the flow, and I feel like I get rewarded over time by playing that way, and I feel like it just mentally helps me a lot.”
Saskatchewan’s veteran quarterback Trevor Harris, who threw for 401 yards last week in the win, has noticed the poised approach from the rookie.
“He’s a stud, man,” Harris complimented after the game against Ottawa. “He’s a dynamic receiver, and he’s somebody that he knows we’re going to be leaning on him while we’ve got two of our big guns out.
“I’m proud of that guy. He’s just a tremendous person, first and foremost, and just a joy to be around. You never know if he had a good game, bad game. As long as we’re winning, and he’s doing his part, he’s making sure that he’s in a great mood, and he’s a great energy guy.”
Johnny, who signed with the Roughriders on May 19 after playing two games for the NFL’s Houston Texans over a four-year span from 2022-25, returned the compliment.
“When I’m out there with him, it seems like he’s a step ahead,” he said of Harris. “If you look at the way he plays, you watch the film, the ball is getting out, whether it’s over the middle of the field taking shots, to the outside, he knows where the ball needs to go.
“He’s seen every defence, so playing with a guy like that, it just makes you more comfortable on just doing your job knowing that he’s going to put the ball where he needs to be. He’s not going to put you in dangerous situations. He’s playing football the right way.
“It makes my job ten times easier.”
Injury report
While Saskatchewan has several players on the six-game injured list, it appears two are nearing their returns to the lineup as receiver/returner James Letcher Jr. (forearm) and defensive lineman Ali Saad (calf) both practised in limited fashion on Tuesday when the team returned to the field.
Meanwhile, offensive lineman Zack Fry (knee) and Daniel Johnson (illness) were both spectators Tuesday as Erik Andersen continues to get reps at left guard after making his first CFL start against Ottawa.
tshire@postmedia.com
