Riders to debut QB Trevor Harris, projected starting offence in preseason finale vs. Bombers

Photo courtesy: CFL. Edit: Taylor Currie.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will have the majority of their projected starters in the lineup for their final preseason game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, including quarterback Trevor Harris.

The prized free agent acquisition did not appear in the team’s first preseason contest after leaving training camp to attend the birth of his third child in Ohio. He is expected to play up to one half of the contest, before giving way to Mason Fine, Jake Dolegala, and Shea Patterson in the heated battle for backup quarterback.

Harris threw for 4,157 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with the Montreal Alouettes last season, leading the team to an 8-7 record over 15 regular season starts. The 36-year-old also helped Montreal win the club’s first postseason game since 2014, throwing for 243 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 28-17 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Semi-Final.

The six-foot-three, 212-pound passer started his CFL career in 2012 as a member of the Toronto Argonauts. He has since played for the Ottawa Redblacks, Edmonton Elks, and Als, throwing for 28,610 yards, 154 touchdowns, and 71 interceptions over 161 games. He has also rushed for 979 yards and nine touchdowns along the ground.

Also slated to make their Rider debuts on Friday with the first-team offence are receivers Derel Walker and Jake Wieneke.

Walker hauled in 65 catches for 874 yards and a single touchdown in 16 games with Edmonton last year. The 31-year-old has amassed 471 career receptions for 6,653 yards and 33 touchdowns, earning the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie award in 2015, four divisional all-star nods, and two league all-star selections.

Wieneke was named a CFL all-star in 2021 after catching 56 passes for 898 yards and 11 touchdowns in 14 games. He struggled to repeat the feat last year with the Montreal Alouettes, settling for 45 receptions and 589 yards with just two touchdowns before joining Saskatchewan in free agency.

Other new faces entering the starting lineup include receiver Shawn Bane Jr., left tackle Philip Blake, centre Peter Godber, and right tackle Eric Lofton. Top Global draft pick Adam Korsak will take all the reps at punter with incumbent Kaare Vedvik on the inactive list.

Among the notable inactive for this game are returner Mario Alford, defensive tackle Micah Johnson, defensive back Godfrey Onyeka, running back Kienan LaFrance, strongside linebacker Derrick Moncrief, linebacker Justin Herdman-Reed, and receivers Juwan Brescacin and Kian Schaffer-Baker.

The Riders are scheduled to take on the Blue Bombers at IG Field in Winnipeg at 8:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 2.

Photo courtesy: Saskatchewan Roughriders