9 Sask. players make Riders roster ahead of home opener
The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced the final roster Friday afternoon, ahead of next week’s season opener.
Forty-nine players have been named to the active roster, while six players sit on the six-game injured list.
The team added 15 players to the practice roster and returned two players to school.
On Saturday, general manager Jeremy O’Day said having strong practice roster is a good thing in case more players get hurt.
“Just like any other year, when injuries happen you have to adjust. And when that opportunity presents itself for another player, hopefully they can step up and take that opportunity,” O’Day said. “That’s why we have training camp and that’s why we signed the players that we did. We think we have some good players that can fill those roles and hopefully become the next stars.”
Cody Fajardo and Isaac Harker are back at the quarterback position, and the Riders brought former first-round NFL draft pick Paxton Lynch on board.
The Riders released quarterback Tom Flacco and added quarterback Mason Fine to the practice roster.
The team also added South African kicker Henry Nell and brought back Brett Lauther.
HOMEGROWN PLAYERS
Nine Saskatchewan-born players have been named to the squad, including five offensive linemen.
Regina Thunder product Logan Ferland, 2020 first-round pick Mattland Riley, Evan Johnston, Brett Boyko and Dan Clarke have clinched spots on the offensive line.
Wide receivers Mitch Picton and Brayden Lenius, punter Jon Ryan, and long snapper Jorgen Hus are also on the roster.
Twenty-five of the 49 players are also Canadian, giving the team flexibility when it comes to game day ratios.
“How we set the ratio will be up to coach Dickenson and the coaching staff, but we wanted to allow that flexibility so we are happy that we have so many quality Canadians,” said O’Day.
The Riders host the B.C. Lions Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in front of a sold-out Mosaic Stadium.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.