Saskatchewan (5-4-1) will try and snap their four-game winless skid when they head to Toronto to meet the Argonauts (5-4).
Last week, the Roughriders suffered a heartbreaking 27-24 loss to the Montreal Alouettes. In his first game back from a six-game absence, QB Trevor Harris had 355 passing yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. For his efforts, Harris was named to the CFL’s Week 11 Honour Roll, earning the top grade (93.9) from Pro Football Focus.
Corey Mace will make his first appearance in Toronto as the Head Coach for the Roughriders. Prior to joining the green and white, Mace built up his coaching resume as the Argos Defensive Coordinator for two seasons (2022-23), helping the double blue to a Grey Cup win in 2022.
Argonauts Quarterback Chad Kelly will be making his season debut after he missed the first half of the 2024 season with a nine-game suspension. Kelly was reinstated by the league on Sunday and began practicing with the team this week. Last season, the 30-year-old was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player, leading Toronto to a 16-2 record, but fell short of the Grey Cup after Montreal defeated them in the Eastern Final.
Wide Receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker is set to return to the Roughriders lineup after missing the last four games with a shoulder injury. In his fourth season in Saskatchewan, Schaffer-Baker has 352 receiving yards and two touchdowns over a six-game span. Fellow Canadian receiver Ajou Ajou is also back on the roster after missing last week with a finger injury.
Former Argo AJ Ouellette will not return to his old stomping grounds at BMO Field. Frankie Hickson will be back in the starter’s spot at running back. Ouellete was placed on the six-game injured list as he continues to battle a hip injury, the 29-year-old has already missed three games this season.
The revolving door at right tackle for Saskatchewan continues. Trevon Tate will receive the start after he was signed by the club earlier this week, he replaces Logan Ferland, who moves back to his natural position at guard. Tate will become the sixth different player to start at right tackle for the Roughriders in 2024. Jamarcus Hardrick was the starter after he signed as a free agent from Winnipeg but was injured last month. Jacob Brammer took over before suffering an injury of his own. Brandon Council, Nick Jones and Ferland have filled in relief as the green and white look for stability at the position.
Kicker Brett Lauther will try and move past a forgettable game against Montreal. The Riders kicker since 2018, was 3 for 7 in field goal attempts in Saskatchewan’s loss to Montreal.
Thursday’s matchup will mark a rare trip to the Big Smoke for the green and white. The last time the Roughriders played the Argos at BMO Field was in 2019. In 2022 and 2023, the two teams faced off in the Touchdown Atlantic matchup in Nova Scotia. In 2021, the green and white didn’t visit the double blue in the shortened season.
Despite the green and Thursday’s matchup will mark a rare trip to the Big Smoke for the green and white. The last time the Roughriders played the Argos at BMO Field was in 2019. In 2022 and 2023, the two teams faced off in the Touchdown Atlantic matchup in Nova Scotia. In 2021, the green and white didn’t meet the double blue in the shortened season. white being winless over their last four games, they are in first place of the CFL’s Western Division with a one-point edge on the BC Lions (5-5), but both the Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers are three points back, with the Edmonton Elks beginning to show some life, are now only five points back of Saskatchewan.
Back in July, Saskatchewan earned a Week 5 decision over Toronto 30-23. The Roughriders will only have one more matchup against an Eastern opponent with six divisional contests over the last two months of the year