Roughriders’ GM O’Day updates QB situation and more

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The Saskatchewan Roughriders are making good progress on their off-season to-do list.

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This winter, the CFL club has extended starting quarterback Trevor Harris, acquired a backup QB in Jake Maier and recently re-signed middle linebacker Jameer Thurman to a two-year contract extension.

While general manager Jeremy O’Day continues to negotiate with his team’s pending free agents ahead of Feb. 11, he’s also attending the CFL’s winter meetings this week in Charlotte, N.C.

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And on Tuesday, he met with the media to discuss several topics regarding his team:

Quarterback update

Along with extending Harris, one of the biggest moves O’Day has made this off-season was the trade for and subsequent signing of Maier from the Calgary Stampeders, which gives the Roughriders the veteran backup quarterback they were seeking.

“After we identified what we wanted to do at quarterback, it’s one of those situations where do you wait until free agency to talk to somebody or is there a possibility for you to make a trade with the team that you know probably isn’t bringing them back,” said O’Day, who flipped an eighth-round pick to Calgary for Maier. “Once we agreed to (trade) the draft pick, it’s kind of just a no brainer for us to get a chance to talk to him.

“Still some risk there, being able to get them signed before free agency, but we felt the reward was worth the risk.”

While Maier, 27, is in line to back up the 38-year-old Harris for the 2025 season, many are wondering if Maier could eventually take over as the starter the following season and beyond.

“It’s a fresh start for him; new team, new organization,” O’Day said of Maier, who has 45 career CFL starts. “So, we’ll see where it goes.

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“We haven’t had any of those discussions about past this year, to be honest with Jake or Trevor, but they both know the situation that we’re in.

“Hopefully we have a lot of success with the guys that we have and we can keep it rolling with the guys we have. But you know, that’s kind of yet to be determined what 2026 looks like.”

Short yardage QB

With Shea Patterson on an expiring deal, the Roughriders don’t have a quarterback under contract next season with much short-yardage experience.

And who the team will deploy to handle short-yardage scenarios is still to be determined, according to O’Day.

“It’s going to depend on what it looks like in free agency and then who we have,” he said. “We’re going to have a quarterback that’s going to run the short yardage; it’s just more dependent on who we think will be successful for it.

“We do have a plan in place for both situations, whether we have someone that I guess the public would say is a true short-yardage quarterback, or whether we don’t have someone that we feel like short-yardage quarterback.

“Do you want to just have a quarterback that’s just your short yardage guy, or do you want a number three that you feel like is going to develop into a starter someday? Those are questions that we’ll have to answer and will be answered through free agency.”

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Extending Thurman

Another big move O’Day has made this off-season was the re-signing of middle linebacker Jameer Thurman to a two-year extension on Monday.

Last season, after signing with the Riders in free agency, the 29-year-old was named a West Division all-star while being a leader of the team on and off the field.

“What he brings to the locker room is invaluable,” said O’Day. “Coming to a new team and trying to get used to the players in the locker room and the coaching staff and also trying to develop yourself into a leader of a new team is often challenging, but he did a nice job of that.

“He’s just a natural leader; great work ethic, and someone you definitely want to build your defence around.

“It was nice to sign the two-year deal. Those are always good, especially when you’re talking about someone that’s a core player on your team.”

Free agency

The Roughriders still have 22 players who are set to hit the open market if they remain unsigned before Feb. 11.

Among them is defensive back Marcus Sayles, who was named a CFL all-star last season after signing with the Riders from the B.C. Lions at the start of the season.

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“We have had talks with him and his agent,” said O’Day. “They’re kind of ongoing just like they are with a lot of our free agents.

“He’s a very good player, and we’d love to have him back, but in most situations, it’s got to work out for both parties.”

Along the defensive line, while the Riders signed Malik Carney to an extension this week, players including Micah Johnson, Bryan Cox Jr., Miles Brown and Anthony Lanier II remain without contracts.

“We’ve got a number of potential free agents that are still free agents that we’re working through, and that would probably be an area that will look to address, either in the free agency, whether it’s from a negotiation list, or whether it’s from the draft,” said O’Day.

Left tackle

Another starting spot up for grabs this year during training camp will be at left tackle following the departure of Trevor Reid, who has signed with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.

O’Day said with all the injuries the team had last year, there are some options already on the roster who could fill that void.

“We hope that he’s on our team right now,” said O’Day. “But coming into camp last year, no one really knew Trevor Reid was.

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“It’s been such a tough position for us the last number of years, just with injuries and the amount of guys we’ve gone through. So I guess the fortunate part of last year with having so many injuries and playing so many tackles that we actually have a number of them that are on our roster.

“We feel like we probably have a guy that could fill that position.”

Ouellette’s outlook

After being a key free agent signing last year, running back A.J. Ouellette had a down year with just 550 rushing yards in eight games.

Now entering the second year of his two-year deal, O’Day hopes Ouellette is in line for a bounce back season.

“I do feel like he’s going to be healthier than he was coming into training camp last year,” said O’Day. “I think that he had some problems with his hips when he came to camp and tried to fight through it for most of the year and battled and really did everything he could to try to get healthy for us.

“So, I feel like he’s going to be healthier when he comes to camp, which should give him a better start.

“He brings a lot to the table; a lot of intangibles to our team. Great team guy and yeah, we’re excited for him to be part of our team.”

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tshire@postmedia.com

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