Williams, Purifoy expected back for Riders West Semi-Final game
Major pieces for the Saskatchewan Roughriders on both sides of the ball are expected to be back for Sunday's western semi final.
Defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy and wide receiver Duke Williams were off for Saturday's regular season closer against Hamilton. Both returned to practice Wednesday.
According to head coach Craig Dickenson, Purifoy is game-ready after injuring his ankle against Edmonton.
"He's been rehabbing it and treating it, if he's not 100 per cent he's close to 100 per cent," Dickenson said. "We expect him to play in the game."
As for Williams, he's also expected to be at or near 100 per cent come Sunday.
"He looked fine today, we didn't do much today but I think he's going to be just fine," said Dickenson.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo said that the role Williams plays both on the offence and his veteran presence in the locker room is a key piece for the team.
"I remember [Williams] telling me going into this week, saying this is the reason I signed here, I have an opportunity to make a run to the Grey Cup," said Fajardo. "He totally believes it. He makes guys around him believe it."
The injury front isn't all good news for the green and white. Mid-season signee Ricardo Louis is out for the rest of the season after undergoing ACL surgery on Wednesday. He'll be replaced in the lineup by Paul McRoberts.
Kyran Moore also underwent surgery this week and said in a Tweet it went well.
The team also reacted to the CFL All-Star list after Wednesday's practice which included Riders Micah Johnson and Nick Marshall, who both say it's an honour to be named an all-star but felt more green and white should have been represented on the list.
“It’s kind of a bittersweet thing. I think a lot of guys deserve it, and some guys felt like they deserve it. So although I got it I wish a few of my other brothers could’ve got it with us," Johnson said.
For Fajardo, it means his team feels it has something to prove.
"It seems like all year people have been bashing us and just finding a way to point out all the negatives and we just continue to win football games. There's a lot of teams out there that would give anything to be in the position we're at," Fajardo said. "The guys are excited in that locker room. With some guys getting snubbed in the all-star it's just going to add a little bit of motivation. Little bit more chip on their shoulder."
"We're going to have a team that's going to be flying around and got something to prove. That can be a dangerous thing at times," Fajardo said.
The chance to make their case begins Sunday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.