Duke Williams has first practice as a Roughrider
Wide receiver Duke Williams joined his new team on the field for the first time on Tuesday.
The wide receiver isn’t a stranger to the CFL, but he is new to the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ roster, coming off of three seasons with the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills.
Before heading south of the border, he played with Edmonton from 2017 to 2019.
Williams said after practice it will only take him a couple of days to get back in to the rhythm of Canadian football.
“That was the main thing today, is I’ve got to slow the game down in my head,” said Williams. “I wasn’t moving too fast today and I’m going to watch film and learn from my mistakes I made today and make sure I correct that tomorrow for practice.”
Quarterback Cody Fajardo said Williams’ veteran status brings an expertise to the team.
“You can tell when he’s talking to guys about routes, waggles, and he’s very acceptable to criticism or coaching, which is really big when you get a big time receiver or a guy with the resume he’s got,” Fajardo said.
Named a CFL All Star while with Edmonton, Williams said he is ready to do what he does best, which is getting open and catching the football.
“Whatever they’re slacking in I’m here to pick that up and do my part and make plays whenever the ball comes my way and take it one play at a time,” said Williams.
“We’ve been on a three game losing streak and we’re looking to turn that around against Calgary on Saturday night.”
At his first practice as a Rider, Williams was running plays alongside Shaq Evans, who is recovering from a broken foot suffered in Week 2.
Evans said Williams is a proven player in the league who is coming back from the NFL hungry and ready to contribute.
“He definitely brings another big play element to our offence, he’s a guy that brings great energy, he’s intense and I love his game,” said Evans, a fellow wide receiver.
Head coach Craig Dickenson said the team is hopeful both the receivers will be ready to play this weekend against the Stampeders.
He called Williams tough, physical and committed to his craft.
“We signed him for a reason. We think he’s a good football player and can help us win games and we’re planning on putting him out there and letting him do his thing,” said Dickenson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.