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Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris has received medical approval to resume practising, but head coach Corey Mace wouldn’t say if the veteran pivot was playing in Thursday’s road game against the Ottawa Redblacks.
“There’s a possibility,” Mace said about four hours before the Roughriders held a light workout Monday at Mosaic Stadium. “If he’s cleared to practise, he’s cleared to play.”
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“I’m not going to eliminate anything, but right now it’s a 50/50 chance.”
Harris suffered sprained knee ligaments during Saskatchewan’s third regular-season game on June 23. He was placed on the six-game injury list and has missed five games.
The salaries of players on the six-game injury list don’t count against the league-imposed salary cap, so there’s a financial benefit to keeping the team’s highest-paid player sidelined for another game. It wouldn’t make sense to activate Harris as a backup or third-stringer against Ottawa.
Mace said he has discussed the situation with Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day.
Without having seen Harris practise, the Roughriders were hesitant to immediately reactivate their starting quarterback. Mace said Harris, a 12-year CFL veteran in his second season with Saskatchewan, could handle the shortened preparation period and his return would certainly inspire a team that has lost three of its last four games.
The Roughriders played Saturday, losing 42-31 to the previously winless Edmonton Elks, and in another atypical CFL scheduling quirk will have only Monday’s walk-through and Tuesday’s closed practice to prepare for Ottawa.
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With backup Shea Patterson going 2-3 in his first CFL starts, the Roughriders have a 5-3 record and share first place atop the West with the 5-3 B.C. Lions. Rookies Jack Coan, the current backup, and Eric Barriere have been the other quarterbacks dressed in Harris’ absence.
Asked if he was starting Thursday’s game, Patterson replied, “Yeah,” before adding, “I haven’t been told I’m not.”
Patterson has shown steady improvement, according to the head coach, and the Roughriders are confident if he remains as the starter.
“We always want the opportunity to win and Shea has given us that opportunity,” said Mace.
Against Edmonton, Patterson completed 22 of 38 passes for 306 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Saskatchewan’s offence gained 392 net yards, but the defence struggled mightily and allowed 515 yards. The Roughriders had been surrendering a league-low 48 rushing yards per game before Edmonton ran for 276 yards, including 169 yards and three touchdowns from backup tailback Javon Leake.
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