Saskatchewan Roughriders push back game versus Toronto to Sunday
TORONTO — The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Toronto Argonauts will full their back-to-back sequence a day later than initially deliberate.
The Riders introduced Thursday the return engagement might be performed Sunday evening at Mosaic Stadium after 13 gamers and 5 workers members examined constructive for COVID-19. The 2 groups had been scheduled to satisfy Saturday evening however after dropping a 30-24 resolution to Toronto on Saturday in Wolfville, N.S., the Riders had been unable to practise Tuesday or Wednesday.
The Riders had been in a position to practise Thursday however starter Cody Fajardo and backup Mason High-quality had been amongst 12 gamers who did not take part. Fajardo is taking part in via a left knee harm, however based on Saskatchewan’s harm report each he and High-quality had been additionally ailing.
After follow, Riders head coach informed reporters Jake Dolegala, the workforce’s No. 3 quarterback and a CFL rookie, will begin Sunday.
“To have to maneuver our sport is a worst-case state of affairs for us and one thing we by no means wish to need to do,” Roughriders president/CEO Craig Reynolds mentioned within the assertion. “We all know that our followers typically plan to attend Rider video games weeks and months prematurely and there could be lots of journey and logistics concerned in that call.
“For that, we’re really sorry, however we hope by protecting the sport on the identical weekend and shifting it to Sunday our followers will nonetheless be capable of make it out to take pleasure in Household Day at Mosaic Stadium.”
The Argos offered an indication earlier Thursday the sport would not go forward as initially scheduled after they cancelled their follow and added it wasn’t for COVID-related causes.
On Thursday, the CFL urged the Riders’ COVID-19 scenario was getting higher.
“The postponement was attributable to quite a few constructive COVID-19 checks amongst Roughriders gamers and workers earlier this week,” the league mentioned. “The scenario has improved, and medical officers at the moment are assured the sport can go forward safely on Sunday.”
On Wednesday, the Riders introduced 10 gamers had been nonetheless sidelined following constructive checks however three extra had been faraway from COVID protocol.
Jeremy O’Day, the Riders’ GM/vice-president of soccer operations mentioned gamers “in nearly each place,” had been impacted and the outbreak was the consequence the workforce travelling on planes and buses and sharing resort rooms.
The workforce took two days off following the loss to Toronto however cancelled practices Tuesday and Wednesday. O’Day added the Riders proceed to observe the CFL’s COVID-19 protocols and stay in common contact with the league relating to the scenario.
The rescheduled sport nonetheless offers Saskatchewan time to arrange for its July 29 dwelling contest versus the B.C. Lions.
Following Sunday’s contest, Toronto will host the Ottawa Redblacks on July 31.
It is unclear if Saskatchewan receiver Duke Williams and Toronto defensive lineman Eli Mencer will play Sunday. Each had been suspended for one sport by the CFL for his or her actions final weekend in Nova Scotia.
Earlier than that sport, Williams eliminated Toronto defensive again Shaquille Richardson’s helmet and threw it at him. After the competition, Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie accused Williams of twice spitting in Richardson’s face — within the pre-game altercation after which later within the sport.
Richardson obtained a most tremendous (half a sport cheque) for his function within the incident.
Mencer was banned for derogatory language in direction of an official through the sport. There was no indication whether or not both Williams or Mencer would enchantment their suspensions.
Saskatchewan can even be with out defensive lineman Garrett Marino, who final week started serving a four-game suspension for a low hit on Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.
The Riders mentioned they plan to have “practically all” of their regularly-scheduled actions going Sunday. There was no indication relating to what occasions would not be held.
Followers with tickets to Saturday’s sport will robotically have them moved to Sunday the membership mentioned, including “no motion is required on the a part of the ticket holder.”
“We have now had an unlucky reminder that COVID-19 remains to be a actuality in our lives, however we’ll put our greatest foot ahead after we play Sunday evening,” Reynolds mentioned. “Household Day is considered one of my favorite video games yearly, and I can’t wait to have our followers there to cheer us on.”
This marks the primary CFL sport that is been rescheduled this season as a result of COVID-19.
Final yr, the Edmonton Elks had an outbreak that led to the postponement of a sport in opposition to Toronto that was finally made up later within the yr.
The 2020 CFL season was cancelled due to the worldwide pandemic.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed July 21, 2022
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
