Riders’ defensive end A.C. Leonard misses practice with foot injury

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Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive end A.C. Leonard missed practice on Wednesday due to a foot injury, according to the team’s injury report.

The six-foot-two, 250-pound pass-rusher has recorded eight tackles and one sack over three games this season. He has started all of Saskatchewan’s games this year opposite defensive end Pete Robertson, who leads the league with five sacks.

Leonard made a career-high 11 sacks in 2021 along with 41 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble. He has made 209 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, 37 sacks, five forced fumbles, and one interception over 87 career games as a member of the B.C. Lions (2015), Riders (2016-17, 2019-present) and Ottawa Redblacks (2018).

Charleston Hughes has been a full participant in practice after missing Week 3 due to a thigh injury. Head coach Craig Dickenson indicated on Tuesday that he is expected to be back in the lineup this week when the Montreal Alouettes visit Mosaic Stadium.

In the event that Leonard is unable to play this week, Hughes would be the most likely candidate to replace him in the starting lineup.

The Riders (2-1) are scheduled to host the Montreal Alouettes (1-2) on Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. ET. The game will be the second half of a home-and-home series between the two teams that started last week with a 37-13 victory for the Als at Percival Molson Stadium.