RIDERS BACK TO WORK

OTTAWA – The Saskatchewan Roughriders held Day 1 of their work week on Tuesday afternoon at MNP Field at Carleton University in Ottawa. The team is staying in Eastern Canada between back-to-back games in Ottawa and Toronto.

Here are some notes:

1 – Running back Trent Richardson got most of the work with the first team offense and Head Coach & GM Chris Jones announced afterwards that the former NFL first round pick will make his CFL debut Saturday at Toronto. Jones said Richardson has shown his ability to be a quality back and isn’t concerned about his blocking abilities. He said Richardson is a great “all-around” football player.

2 – Many Rider fans have asked how Richardson “looked” on Tuesday. It was tough to tell since the team wasn’t in pads but he looks in shape and ready.

3 -The “Flyin’ Hawaiian” Chad Owens saw work with the offense and also on punt returns but fans shouldn’t read too much into that. This is the first week Owens is elligible to practice due to 6-game Injury List limitations so he’s not a slam dunk to make his Rider debut against the Argos.

4 – The biggest reason for that is the numbers game. Incumbent returner Christion Jones is coming off his best game of the season – including a 97-yard punt return touchdown against the RedBlacks – and it’s unlikely the Riders would de-activate him to make room for Owens.

Roosevelt

5 – Leading receiver Naaman Roosevelt ran with the 1’s on offense after missing last week’s game with a concussion. The Buffalo product told reporters that was the first concussion of his football career and he only felt affects of the hit for 24 hours afterwards (a headache).

6 – Roosevelt said he didn’t feel the hit which knocked him out of the Riders Week 14 game by Calgary’s Tunde Adeleke was dirty. Asked if he’s concerned about possible CTE problems later in his life due to football, Roosevelt answered, “We’re football players. We all are.”

7 – Quarterback Kevin Glenn was back running the offense on Tuesday, as usual. Some fans felt some of Glenn’s errant throws against Ottawa might’ve been due to a lingering hand injury but he said that was more due to the inclement conditions. Asked for a status update on his right hand, Glenn shrugged, “It is what it is.”

8 – During his session with reporters, Chris Jones said he never once thought about pulling Kevin Glenn for Brandon Bridge in the Ottawa game despite trailing 17-0 in the third quarter.

9 – Jones said DE #99 A.C. Leonard suffered a lower body injury in the Ottawa game and has gone home to Regina to rehab. He was replaced by rookie Rakim Cox on Tuesday.

10 – It was a warm, sunny fall day in the nation’s capital. It was 23 degrees Celsius with no wind. There were a dozen or so onlookers at Tuesday’s practice at Carleton University. They included Ravens football players, students, and Rider fans from the area.

Saskatchewan will practice at Carleton on Wednesday (10:30 am) and Thursday (TBD) before bussing to Toronto Thursday evening. They’ll hold a walk-through at Varsity Stadium at 11:00 am on Friday and it’s open to the public.

Cameron Judge with Craig Dickenson

11 – Regarding the bizarre Twitter rant that rookie first round pick Cameron Judge went on Saturday night, Jones said Judge is rehabbing his shoulder injury in Los Angeles, living with his father. Jones spoke with the player, his agent and his family after his Twitter comments and said Judge is doing well and is expected to rejoin the team next week.

12 – Regarding 7-6 Saskatchewan’s game against the 7-7 Argonauts Saturday in Toronto, Chris Jones had some fun with Argos Defensive Coordinator Corey Chamblin who oversees the CFL’s #2 defense. Jones said he isn’t surprised with what Chamblin’s doing with Toronto’s defense because “he’s a very good coach”.

Jones then smiled and said he’s known Chamblin since he was 18 when he recruited him to Tennessee Tech. “He’s a big spoiled kid,” Jones chuckled. “His Mama spoiled him when he was young.”

RP
@rodpedersen