Roughriders’ Jerreth Sterns ready to play after being healthy scratch

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Jerreth Sterns wants to play.

After entering the season as a starting receiver for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the 25-year-old has been a healthy scratch for the Green and White for the last six games.

However, with receiver Shawn Bane Jr. not expected to play this week as he deals with a knee injury, Sterns is on track to return to the starting lineup on Saturday (5 p.m., TSN) when the Roughriders (7-7-1) visit the Edmonton Elks (5-10) in Week 18 of the CFL season.

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“Obviously it’s tough,” Sterns said of being a healthy scratch. “No guy wants to be sat.

“But I mean like we’ve been saying all year, we’ve got the deepest receiver room in the league and I think we’ve shown that.

“No matter who was in there, they were making plays so I’m just excited to be back hopefully.”

This season, seven different Riders have at least 300 receiving yards led by Samuel Emilus (844), Kian Schaffer-Baker (663), KeeSean Johnson (585), Bane (581), Dohnte Meyers (349), Sterns (324) and Ajou Ajou (307).

Rookie Dhel Duncan-Busby, who made his first career start last week, has also racked up 135 yards and Mitch Picton, who is nearing a return to the lineup, has 148 yards.

Prior to being taken out of the lineup, Sterns started the first nine games of the season for the Riders, catching 25 passes for 324 yards. He was Saskatchewan’s leading receiver through the first three weeks.

However, his production fell off and he placed on the practice roster in Week 11, where he’s remained for the last two months.

“For me, I was attacking it like I was still playing,” said the 5-foot-9, 175-pounder. “Still watching the film, still studying the new plays that were getting put in.

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“I think that was just my thought process through the whole thing. Just staying in shape, staying in tune with the playbook and don’t fall behind on anything.”

Sterns said the physical part of staying ready was a lot easier than the mental part.

“Obviously it’s frustrating but you can’t check out,” said Sterns. “You never know.

“It’s football. Guys go down all the time. It’s the unfortunate part of this game so you’ve got to stay ready mentally.

“We’re out here running every day. I’m still getting my lifts in and everything and doing the scout team and everything like that, you’re ready physically.

“Any of the guys around me would say I was never moping around or anything like that. I did a good job trying to encourage the new guys that were out there and just tell them to go make the most of their opportunity now.

“But mentally, getting taken out of the lineup, it can be easy to check out, but I did a good job not doing that.”

Head coach Corey Mace can attest to the fact that Sterns put forth a “team-first” mentality despite being told he would be sitting.

“If you go from playing to not playing, I would want guys to be frustrated,” said Mace. “But nobody has ever been an issue. These guys just come to work and work to get better.

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“In Sterns’ situation, I’ve been very vocal with the team about him being my favourite player on the team.

“He doesn’t say much. He just comes to work, he takes notes, he does everything right.

“Even in his situation, he’s been handling it nothing but professionally.”

After signing with the Riders in July last season, Sterns went on to play 11 games for Saskatchewan, making 44 catches for 449 yards and a touchdown.

And while he was hoping to expand on his role this season, Sterns has instead had to navigate being a healthy scratch, while relying on veterans like Bane, who spent two years in and out of the lineup with the Calgary Stampeders before becoming a starter in Saskatchewan in 2023.

“Shawn Bane did a good job just staying in my ear,” said Sterns. “He went through a similar process when he first came to the CFL, so he was just telling me, ‘Just stay ready; you just never know when your number is going to be called.’ ”

Injury report

After missing last game and sitting out of practice on Tuesday, linebacker C.J. Reavis (knee) was a full participant Wednesday and could return to the lineup this week.

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Meanwhile, punter Adam Korsak (hamstring) logged a limited workout on Day 2 after missing Day 1 however it doesn’t appear to be serious enough to keep him out of the lineup.

“Just before the last game, he’s quite the athlete but he messed himself up just a little bit but he’s fine,” Mace said of Korsak, who punted the ball six times for an average of 48.8 yards per punt last week against the Ottawa Redblacks. “We’re just being smart with him.”

Among those not practising Wednesday was Bane (knee), defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado (knee) and running back Ryquell Armstead (shoulder).

Offensive lineman Jacob Brammer (knee) was limited on Day 2 after sitting out Day 1 while defensive lineman Bryan Cox Jr. (illness) was a full participant Wednesday after being limited on Tuesday. Linebacker Justin Herdman-Reed (elbow) was also a full participant for a second straight day.

Running back A.J. Ouellette (hip) and receiver Mitch Picton (ankle) were both limited for a second straight day as they get closer to returning to the lineup.

tshire@postmedia.com

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