It remains unclear who will get the start at quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday night in Hamilton.
Veteran pivot Kevin Glenn, who leads one of the top offensive clubs in the CFL this season, has been resting a bruised hand all week. He will be a game-time decision for the matchup with the Tiger-Cats.
Head coach Chris Jones said his decision hinges on if Glenn "tells me that he's ready to go and he's able to throw. Again, right now, we're waiting to see if that's going to happen or not."
Glenn, who's third in the CFL with 21 touchdown passes (and tied for second with 10 interceptions), injured his hand in last week's 48-28 loss to Winnipeg. He was replaced by Brandon Bridge and has yet to participate in team practices this week.
Bridge, who has been taking first-team reps, was the one who showed up for the team's media availability Thursday. However, he said he doesn't know who will get the start, adding he thought Glenn "looked good" when he saw him throwing Thursday.
Bridge also noted that Saskatchewan's solid group of receivers makes it easier for any quarterback to step in.
The Roughriders are tied with Ottawa for the league lead with 24 touchdown catches. Glenn's favourite target is Duron Carter, who leads the CFL with eight TD receptions with teammate Naaman Roosevelt close behind with six.
"They make plays," Hamilton head coach June Jones said of the Saskatchewan receivers. "Plus, they're big bodies. They get the ball around them, they come down with it. I'm very impressed with those guys. And they run after the catch."
Hamilton free safety Courtney Stephen said the defence is going to have to stick to its game plan and force the Roughriders to adjust.
"I think if you get back on your heels and let them dictate the pace then they can really climb all over you so we're going to have to set the tempo early," he said.
Saskatchewan (5-5) sits in last place in the West but has a game in hand on every team in the division. The Roughriders are also just two points behind B.C. in the battle for a possible playoff crossover spot.
Hamilton (2-8), meanwhile, is on a two-game win streak after going winless in its first eight games. Jones has won both of his games since taking over as head coach and Jeremiah Masoli is 2-0 as the starting quarterback.
The Ticats may be last in the East, but they're only five points behind first-place Ottawa with two games in hand.
Hamilton and Saskatchewan last met in Week 3 at Regina. Glenn had 380 yards passing in a 37-20 victory while Hamilton pivot Zach Collaros threw for 189 yards.
Jones cautioned that Hamilton now has a much different look.
"Coach (June) Jones has come in and put his stamp on the football team," Jones said. "The thing I see is the players seem to be playing fast. For whatever reason, they're playing very fast and physical. The quarterback is moving around the pocket. We've got to do a great job of keeping him in the pocket. But they look like they're having fun."
Notes: The Riders signed a couple reinforcements this week with defensive back Otha Foster returning after a brief stint in the NFL and former Hamilton running back and punt/kick returner Marcus Thigpen joining the team after four seasons and 50 games in the NFL. ... The Tiger-Cats released linebackers D.J. May and Akeem Whonder on Thursday.
