It has been a news filled month of July for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and despite the adversity facing them, they’re hoping the Monday morning headlines are highlighted by a victory.
The green and white host the double blue of the Toronto Argonauts this afternoon at Mosaic Stadium with an opening kickoff at 5:00. The game was pushed back to a Sunday kickoff following a COVID outbreak within the Rider organization that has left them shorthanded for today’s game.
Jake Dolegala will get the start at quarterback for the Riders. He replaces Cody Fajardo who is out this week as he dealing with an injured knee along with the effects of a COVID illness.
Mason Fine is listed as a game time decision to be the team’s #2 quarterback.
There will be plenty of fresh faces that will be catching the ball from Dolegala on Sunday. Dieuly Aristilde Jr. will make his first appearance in the Riders lineup as he got called up from the practice roster this week. Returner Mario Alford is slated to start at slotback for Saskatchewan.
Duke Williams is out of today’s game as he serves his one game suspension for last week’s helmet throwing incident with the Argos Shaq Richardson.
A couple of key players who are playing for the Riders on Sunday will be the league’s leader in rushing Jamal Morrow and receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker, who leads the CFL in YAC. (yards after catch)
Defensively Saskatchewan will have a couple of key guys back in the secondary. Rolan Milligan and Amari Henderson are back in the Riders uniform after missing the Touchdown Atlantic game will illnesses.
One member of the secondary that will be out is Nick Marshall. Nelson Lokombo is back starting at cornerback.
On the defensive line, Charleston Hughes is healed up and will be starting at defensive end for the green and white. Demarcus Christmas will line up at defensive tackle and lead a short rotation with a group including Miles Brown.
Saskatchewan will be looking to maintain the fast pace start in the CFL West with Winnipeg leading the pack at 7-0. Calgary and BC are both at 4-1.
Toronto is tied with Montreal on top of the East Division, but the Argos have two games in hand on the Alouettes.
The Riders and the Blue Bombers are the only two teams in the CFL this season to start 3-0 on home turf so far.
Saskatchewan will look to make it four in a row at Mosaic Stadium, you can catch the game on 620 CKRM. Countdown to Kickoff begins at 2:00, opening kickoff with Michael Ball is slated for 5:00.
