Latest news with #SaskatchewanRoughriders
Toronto Star
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Injured Argonauts look for their first win of the season against red-hot Roughriders
The defending Grey Cup champions find themselves in an unfamiliar territory heading into Friday's matchup against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Last week's 29-19 loss to the Calgary Stampeders was the first time head coach Ryan Dinwiddie has lost a home-opener with the Argos, and it dropped Toronto into a 0-2 hole.
National Post
11 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
QB Kelly out again as Arbuckle starts third straight game for banged-up Argos
Chad Kelly will have plenty of company on the Toronto Argonauts sideline Friday night. Article content Kelly will miss a third straight start when Toronto (0-2) hosts the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-0). The 2023 CFL outstanding player continues to recover from a leg injury suffered in last year's East Division final. Article content Article content Ditto for receiver/returner Janarion Grant (ankle), the 2024 CFL top special teams player last season, who also has yet to play this year. Article content Joining them among Toronto's walking wounded will be linebackers Wynton McManis (knee) and Jack Cassar (adductor), running back Deonta McMahon (ankle), receiver DaVaris Daniels (hip), defensive lineman Demarcus Christmas (Achilles) and offensive linemen Sage Doxtater (knee), Dylan Giffen (back) and Darius Ciraco (foot). Article content On Thursday, Toronto re-signed Canadian fullback Brandon Calver, who spent the last four seasons with the club. He'll start on offence Friday and also play special teams. Article content Still, it's hardly an ideal scenario for a Toronto team looking to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2019. Article content 'Sometimes the injury bug hits you but we have no excuses,' said Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. 'It's next man up. Article content 'It's professional sports … you have to find a way to overcome it.' Article content Saskatchewan receiver Sam Emilus (foot) won't play but Canadian running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon returns to back up former Argo A.J. Ouellette. Sophomore receiver Joe Robustelli is also back and starts. Article content Ka'Deem Carey won't face his former team. Carey, who ran for 1,060 yards last year in helping Toronto win the Grey Cup, joined Saskatchewan after being among the Argos' final cuts but won't dress Friday. Article content Article content Jake Herslow starts at slotback for Toronto while Canadian Ryan Hunter, the CFL's top lineman last year, moves from right tackle to left guard. American Hampton Ergle starts at tackle. Article content 'He (Williams) showed his physicality breaking through some tackles and getting to the second level,' Dinwiddie said. 'I think he's used to the U.S. game where it's more downhill but you've got to be a bit more patient (in the CFL) and set up some blocks and I think he's getting there.'
Globe and Mail
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Banged up Argos seek first win against undefeated Riders
Chad Kelly will have plenty of company on the Toronto Argonauts sideline Friday night. Kelly will miss a third straight start when Toronto (0-2) hosts the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-0). The 2023 CFL outstanding player continues to recover from a leg injury suffered in last year's East Division final. Ditto for receiver/returner Janarion Grant (ankle), the 2024 CFL top special-teams player last season, who also has yet to play this year. Joining them among Toronto's walking wounded will be linebackers Wynton McManis (knee) and Jack Cassar (adductor), running back Deonta McMahon (ankle), receiver DaVaris Daniels (hip), defensive lineman Demarcus Christmas (Achilles) and offensive linemen Sage Doxtater (knee), Dylan Giffen (back) and Darius Ciraco (foot). On Thursday, Toronto re-signed Canadian fullback Brandon Calver, who spent the last four seasons with the club. He'll start on offence Friday and also play special teams. Still, it's hardly an ideal scenario for a Toronto team looking to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2019. 'Sometimes the injury bug hits you but we have no excuses,' said Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. 'It's next man up. 'It's professional sports ... you have to find a way to overcome it.' Saskatchewan receiver Sam Emilus (foot) won't play but Canadian running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon returns to back up former Argo A.J. Ouellette. Sophomore receiver Joe Robustelli is also back and starts. Ka'Deem Carey won't face his former team. Carey, who ran for 1,060 yards last year in helping Toronto win the Grey Cup, joined Saskatchewan after being among the Argos final cuts but won't dress Friday. Jake Herslow starts at slotback for Toronto while Canadian Ryan Hunter, the CFL's top lineman last year, moves from right tackle to left guard. American Hampton Ergle starts at tackle. Rookie running back Miyan Williams makes his first CFL start with Toronto. The five-foot-eight, 237-pound former Ohio State Buckeye ran for 62 yards on nine carries in last week's 29-19 home loss to Calgary while adding nine catches for 65 yards after replacing McMahon. But when Williams entered last week's game, he was the last running back on Toronto's roster, which somewhat handcuffed Dinwiddie, who's also Toronto's offensive coordinator. Running back Kevin Brown was signed this week, which should give Dinwiddie more play-calling flexibility. 'He (Williams) showed his physicality breaking through some tackles and getting to the second level,' Dinwiddie said. 'I think he's used to the U.S. game where it's more downhill but you've got to be a bit more patient (in the CFL) and set up some blocks and I think he's getting there.' Williams downplayed the notion that being thrust into last week's game was difficult for him. 'It's not hard if you mentally prepare yourself to just be ready for whatever happens,' he said. 'It (Friday night) is just another game I've got to prepare for so I don't treat it differently than any other.' Veteran Nick Arbuckle makes a third straight start for Toronto. While the '24 Grey Cup MVP has a 68.9 completion percentage and is third overall in passing yards (582), he has more interceptions (four) than TDs (two). 'Just manage the game,' Dinwiddie said regarding what he wants to see from Arbuckle on Friday. 'You don't have to be a superhero, just master the plan.' Toronto has committed five turnovers (tied for last overall) while having recorded a CFL-low one turnover. Isaac Darkangelo replaces McManis at middle linebacker while defensive lineman Anthony Lanier III faces his former team. Lanier III played four seasons with Saskatchewan before signing with Toronto after not being offered an extension by the Riders. Saskatchewan comes off a 28-23 road win over Hamilton last week. Veteran Trevor Harris was 26-of-37 passing for 294 yards with a TD and an interception while KeeSean Johnson had eight catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. Ouellette was also a factor, rushing for 96 yards and a TD on 13 carries. But veteran kicker Brett Lauther missed three of five field goals and a convert. Linebacker Jameer Thurman (CFL-high 17 defensive plays) anchors a Riders defence that also includes defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr., the 2024 CFL top defensive player who had an interception last week. 'Offensively, I think they've kind of got it going,' Dinwiddie said. 'They'll take some shots but at the same time they'll move downfield and Trevor does a really good job of managing the game. 'If you look at their defence, they're pretty darn good. They're going to make us earn it with completions and not give us any deep shots so we've got to make sure we're not in second-and-long. We've got to win first down.'
CTV News
16 hours ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Riders Ouellette delivering blows to the competition
Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris (7) hands off to Saskatchewan Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette (45) during the first half of the CFL Hamilton Tiger Cats home opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Hamilton, Ont., on Saturday, June 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power While the CFL season is still young, week three just being on the horizon, Saskatchewan Roughriders' running back AJ Ouellette made his early case for play of the year, or at least stiff arm of the year. Ouellette's highlight-reel 47-yard touchdown run against Hamilton was punctuated with a stiff arm that sent the Ti-Cats DaShaun Amos to the Tim Horton's Field turf. 'We called the run, and I knew it was going to be a good play, I didn't think it was going to develop into that. But once I saw our monster kick out their d-end, I said there's nobody back here. So, I just had to set up the safety in the front and press it back,' Ouellette said. Ouellette told CTV News that everything about the run was fun, but in particular, dishing out the punishment at the end. 'Coach Harris was yelling at me all of last season that my stiff arm wasn't violent enough, and the stiff arm was a straight punch to the jaw, so it felt good.' Daniel Johnson, who made his first start of the season at left tackle in week two, said that being a part of the celebration left him more winded than the long run. 'I was too busy breathing, trying to catch up to AJ celebrating. It's amazing, I feel like the celebration is more tiring that the play itself because you're just so geeked up. You're so happy to see your brothers win, and so happy to see us in the endzone.' Ouellette and the Riders have a quick turnaround this week, heading to Toronto for their second Eastern away game in a row on Friday. Ouellette is no stranger to playing on BMO Field, having been a member of the Argos as recently as 2023, even making a quip about some possible gamesmanship by Toronto. 'It's going to be a fun one, I'm used to the grass so I'm excited to see if I still got the footwork on the grass. They'll probably do some extra watering the night before and the morning of, not that I know any secrets.' The Riders will take on the Argos Friday at 5:30 CST.
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Davis: Saskatchewan Roughriders coaches exuding calmness, confidence in second CFL season together
Article content Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive backs coach Joshua Bell is trying a new countenance that — he hopes — matches the second-year calmness evident along the team's sidelines during its first two CFL games. Article content 'I'll have to tell you some secrets,' said Bell, chuckling as he spoke. 'I've been working on my Jon Gruden face. Article content Article content 'For our first year I was known for a (expletive deleted) face, like 'What the (beep) is that? C'mon, baby!' When I talk to my team this year, I'm gonna be more regal. I can't be so emotional when I'm trying to be a coach.' Article content Article content Gruden is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Before being suspended by the NFL in 2021 for sending derogatory emails, Gruden was known for his stoic, confident demeanour during football games. Article content Article content While winning their first two games this season and preparing to visit the winless, defending Grey Cup-champion Toronto Argonauts on Friday, the Roughriders have indeed shown some of Gruden's sideline attitude. Perhaps it's a product of being together for a second straight year with basically the same coaching staff and roster. Article content 'We want to break it down for every single play. Oh, we gave up a big play? No problem. What did we learn, because we want to make the play on them when they do it a second time. We're very confident in the process, that our guys are learning, they're resilient, that they trust each other. Now they're reflecting that back on us and they're holding us even more accountable.' Article content Article content Even when his tossed challenge flag wasn't noticed during Saskatchewan's last game, second-year head coach Corey Mace didn't flip out. He simply spoke with the officials, who called back a touchdown scored by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and reviewed the previous play before dismissing Mace's challenge. Article content Article content Hamilton still scored. It wasn't a horrible challenge, asking for a video review on a long reception by Hamilton receiver Kenny Lawler that came close to being out of bounds at Saskatchewan's one-yard line. Article content Mace chuckled about the incident during a recent practice, joking that he may have injured his throwing arm, before being asked if his staff was more relaxed this season. Article content 'To be honest, I'm not really paying attention to the other coaches,' said Mace. 'I know Bell's a high-energy guy. Maybe there's a little more comfort. But if you're a high-energy guy, be that. We want everybody to be themselves.
