Riders finalizing COVID-19 protocols, preparing for training camp
After a quiet past year, the football operations department for the Saskatchewan Roughriders is busy.
"I'm really proud of the work they're doing right now," Riders' general manager Jeremy O’Day said. "We’re confirming all our players as we speak and getting them booked to come into Regina, so every time we book another flight, the excitement grows."
The Canadian Football League announced its return to the field on Monday after the board of governors voted in favour of a 14-game season for 2021.
When he heard the news, O’Day said he was happy for the players, who have had to go almost two years without playing, and for the fans to have football back.
"Super excited, elated, that we're going to get to get back on the field and play football," he said. "Just happy to be back back doing what we do."
As he begins to contact players, the Riders’ GM is also encouraging them to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
"We’re going to try to do our best to encourage our guys to get so that we could reduce that risk of an outbreak on our team," he said.
"It is their choice to get vaccinated."
O’Day said the team has provided education sessions with doctors for the players on the vaccinations, but he didn’t know what percentage of players would have received the shot when they arrive in Regina.
As the team prepares to hit the field next month, it’s also finalizing the protocols that will be in place to limit the spread of the virus.
"Certainly you want to try to do the best you can to mitigate any risk that you can have of bringing COVID into the building," O’Day said. "We're gonna have to be very precautionary and very safe and follow all the protocols that are that are put in front of us so that we we can make sure it doesn't get in the building."
Saskatchewan is set to open training camp on July 10 and will have a little less than a month to prepare for the start of the regular season on Aug. 6 against the B.C. Lions at Mosaic Stadium.
The team will be allowed to bring in 100 players for training camp. O’Day said their roster is currently over that limit, so they will have to make some tough decisions over the next few weeks.
"It’s a little bit tricky because we're things are happening all at once here where we're booking travel for our players, and making sure that our all our players are committed to playing," O’Day said.
He expects there to be more players than usual who decide to move on from football.
"We're in the process of making sure that everyone's committed to come in before we make too many decisions on the roster, but we will have to make some adjustments before we get to camp," O’Day said.
When the Riders kick off the regular season against the Lions, it will have been 628 days since the team last took to the field. O’Day said he won’t be changing his expectations for the team because of that.
"They're competing against players that are in the same same exact position," he said. "We're hoping our guys did the best they could to keep yourself in sit in shape."
With no preseason this year, the Riders are planning on scheduling a scrimmage against another team, but nothing has been finalized yet.
"It’d be great from an evaluation standpoint to be able to see our guys competing against another team," O’Day said. "Also, just from experience, being in training camp for for a week is a long period of time of only playing against your only your own teammates."
O’Day said the team is still working out if fans will be able to attend any of the training camp sessions.
The Riders announced the signing of American linebacker Deon Lacey on Tuesday and O’Day said he’s going to provide a lot of versatility for the team.
"Deon is a multi-dimensional player, he's obviously a four-team special teamer… and we see him as a guy that we can use in multiple areas," he said.
O’Day also revealed global draft selection Sebastian Sagne from Finland was released after tearing his achilles tendon during training for the upcoming season.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.