Injury bug plagues Riders in opening game win over Ottawa
Saskatchewan Roughriders running back AJ Ouellette (right) runs the football against the Ottawa Redblacks during the first half of CFL football action in Regina, on Thursday, June 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
The Saskatchewan Roughriders paid a hefty price to beat the Ottawa Redblacks 31-26 to open the 2025 CFL season.
In the first 17 minutes, Kian Schaffer-Baker, A.J. Ouelette and Rolan Milligan Jr. all left the game with injures and did not return. No updates were immediately available on the specifics of each injury.
Schaffer-Baker was seen on the Rider sideline with an apparent limp, favouring his left leg, about midway through the first quarter.
Near the end of that frame, Ouelette took a hard hit to the head when tackled by Adarius Pickett. Ouelette was slow to get up and left the game after the play.
To start the second quarter, Milligan Jr. made a tackle on Ottawa's Bralon Addison and went down hard. Both Ouelette and Milligan Jr. were taken to the locker room for further evaluation.
In third quarter, OL Payton Collins – who was making his first professional start Thursday – also left the game with an injury and did not return.
Despite the valuable losses, the offense clicked for the Riders, combining for over 360 yards through the air and on the ground and finding the endzone four times.
Trevor Harris went 19/26, 277 yards passing, throwing two touchdowns and one interception.
In relief of Ouelette, Thomas Bertrand-Hudon ran the ball well – totaling 57 yards on 14 carries, while also notching 17 yards receiving on two catches. Bertrand-Hudon also reached the endzone twice himself.
Samuel Emilus led the game in receiving with 133 yards, making catches on all eight targets and a touchdown. The 2024 Most Outstanding Canadian nominee only had two 100-plus-yard receiving games last season.
The Riders did have to stave off a late charge from the Redblacks.
Saskatchewan led 31-14 at the end of the third, but Ottawa scored 12-unanswered points on two touchdowns, failing on a 2-point convert to draw within five.
The Riders' defense would stand tall on the final Ottawa drive of the game - forcing a turnover on downs - icing the game.
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