Riders' running backs hit with injury bug
The Saskatchewan Roughriders were already without starting running back Jamal Morrow, due to a broken hand and have now lost Frankie Hickson to a fractured wrist.
“Unfortunately he does have a fracture so he’ll be out probably for the rest of the season,” said head coach Craig Dickenson.
Hickson had just begun stepping up as the Riders’ starting running back in the Morrow’s absence. In his four games as a starter, he rushed for 299 yards, with 533 total on the season. Now withMorrow and Hickson out, the team will rely on Kienan LaFrance.
“We feel confident in him. It will either be [LaFrance] or [Shaun] Wilson,” said Dickenson.
The Riders’ head coach shared after practice on Wednesday that Wilson is battling a groin injury and might not see reps in this week’s game against Winnipeg.
The hole left at running back will mean the team has to rely on their receivers even more to fill the void.
“We’ve handed the ball off to Schaffer-Baker a few times and we’ve got Kyran Moore back there too. So we’ll find a way to run the football one way or another. Running the football is important for winning games,” said Dickenson.
“When one position’s lacking you know another position group has to pick up the slack. We’re the position group that can do that,” said wide receiver Shaq Evans.
“We’re the group that put in the work this week to do that because we had a feeling this would happen. So there’s no pressure but it’s just a heightened sense of urgency I would say.”
“We got a solid group of guys in there, we’ve kind of been. A family. Everybody’s been kind of doing their part,” said LaFrance when asked about having to step up as the starter this week.
LaFrance, a Winnipeg product, is excited about the opportunity to show off as the new starter where his football roots began.
“It’s always fun playing in front of friends and family. Being out there in the stadium, it’s a great place to play, so I’m looking forward to this game,” said LaFrance.
Kickoff for Friday’s game against the Blue Bombers is scheduled for 6 p.m. on TSN.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE @ 1:15 PT B.C. premier to give announcement related to public drug use
B.C.'s premier is scheduled to give an update Friday about public drug use in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.