Duron Carter's punishment for getting into an altercation with a teammate this week will be more playing time.
A lot more.
Head coach/GM Chris Jones said Thursday that Carter will see action on both sides of the ball Friday night when Saskatchewan visit the Calgary Stampeders. Carter, the Roughriders' leading receiver, practised as a cornerback with the starting defence Thursday as well as with the second-team offence.
Jones wouldn't say how much Carter will play on defence. But Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell cautioned Carter about getting comfortable lining up opposite of a Stampeders' receiver.
"Don't do it Duron.. you'll get 25 balls thrown at you," Mitchell tweeted.
Carter is Saskatchewan's receiving leader with 1,037 yards from 72 catches with eight TDs. It marks the first time in four CFL seasons Carter has cracked the 1,000-yard plateau.
But the six-foot-five, 205-pound Carter -- whose father, Cris, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- is being pressed into duty on defence because of injuries to defensive backs Sam Williams -- who's listed on Saskatchewan's practice roster -- Kacy Rodgers II and Chris Lyles. As well, veteran defensive back Otha Foster III is on the six-game injured list.
Carter has never started on defence but has seen action in the secondary. He played there Saskatchewan's 41-8 win over the B.C. Lions on Aug. 13 as well as its 27-24 road win over the Toronto Argonauts on Oct. 7.
On Monday, Carter and Williams were involved in an altercation. There were reports a coach encouraged Carter and Williams to continue fighting and that once the melee ended that Carter and fellow receiver Bakari Grant -- who tried to break things up -- wouldn't play another game this season with the Riders and the club was making arrangements to fly them both out of Regina.
On Tuesday, Jones acknowledged an incident occurred between Carter and Williams but downplayed the significance of it. Jones wouldn't comment on a coach's reported involvement in the altercation or what, if any, discipline would come as a result.
Friday night's game is important for both teams.
Calgary (13-1-1) can clinch first in the West Division with a victory while Saskatchewan (8-6) could cement a playoff berth with a victory. The Stampeders are 2-0 this season versus the Riders and riding an 11-game win streak.
Calgary has been unbeatable at home of late, having won its last 17 straight games at McMahon Stadium. The Stampeders are also 7-0 within the West Division while Saskatchewan is 3-5.
