The Saskatchewan Roughriders opened training camp on Saturday with three big names missing from the action.
Quarterback Paxton Lynch, linebacker Deon Lacey, and defensive back Nick Marshall did not participate in the team’s first day of practice. Head coach Craig Dickenson revealed in his post-practice press conference that the trio is still in quarantine. As per 3DownNation‘s Joel Gasson, they will hit the field in the near future.
Craig Dickenson says that Lynch, Marshall and Lacey are all in quarantine. Will join the team at various dates. #Riders
— Joel Gasson (@JGasson_21) July 10, 2021
Lynch was a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft who signed with Saskatchewan in the last week of June. He started four games with the Denver Broncos over the 2016 and 2017 seasons, completing 61.7 percent of his passes for 792 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions.
The six-foot-seven, 245-pound passer has a chance to win the backup job to incumbent starter Cody Fajardo.
Lacey spent the last four seasons in the NFL where he played predominantly on special teams. He played three seasons with the Edmonton Elks from 2014-16 during which he recorded 114 defensive tackles, 68 special teams tackles, seven sacks, four forced fumbles, three sacks, and one touchdown.
The 30-year-old is an extremely important addition to Saskatchewan’s lineup due to his versatility. He could potentially start at middle linebacker, weak-side linebacker or even defensive end depending on where he is needed most.
Marshall became a breakout star for the Riders after joining the club in 2018. He has recorded 65 tackles, eight interceptions, three touchdowns, and one forced fumble through two seasons with the team and is pencilled-in to start at boundary cornerback.
The Riders are off to a rocky start as four players suffered torn Achilles tendons in a pre-training camp workout on Thursday. Among those injured were projected starters Larry Dean and Freddie Bishop III along with Canadian defensive back Nelson Lokombo, who was the No. 2 overall selection in the 2021 CFL Draft.
Saskatchewan will return to the field for day two of training camp on Sunday.
