The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be without their most veteran offensive lineman for the foreseeable future, placing left guard Philip Blake on the six-game injured list ahead of Sunday’s clash with Hamilton.
The 38-year-old went down with an apparent quad injury last week and is expected to miss significant time. He played just six games for the team in 2023 due to an injury suffered in the preseason but has started the team’s last seven games — five last year and two in 2024 — providing a noticeable upgrade up front.
The six-foot-three, 310-pound blocker has played eight seasons since being selected in the third round of the 2011 CFL Draft by the Montreal Alouettes, including an initial stint with the Riders that lasted from 2018 to 2019. He has dressed for 102 games with Montreal, Saskatchewan, and Toronto, making starts at both guard and tackle while helping to win a Grey Cup with the Argos in 2022.
The native of Toronto was a fourth-round pick of the Denver Broncos in the 2012 NFL Draft, spending time with the Broncos and Cardinals before coming to the CFL in 2015.
Free agent addition Ryan Sceviour will get his first start for the Green and White in Blake’s stead after spending the last five seasons as a member of the Calgary Stampeders. He has started all 18 games at right guard in each of the last two seasons, earning West Division all-star honours in 2022.
The six-foot-four, 311-pound blocker was selected by the Stampeders with the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 2018 CFL Draft, winning a Grey Cup with the team as a rookie. He has since appeared in 66 games, starting all but one of them.
The Riders made no other alterations to their roster for Week 3, though several key starters may not be at full strength. Running back A.J. Ouellette (leg), right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick (ankle), and halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. (neck) will all play despite missing practices this week, while receiver Shawn Bane Jr. (leg), strong-side linebacker C.J. Reavis (hip), and cornerback Deontai Williams (foot) are pushing through despite limitations.
Centre Peter Godber will also start despite missing the entire week of practice due to a personal matter. Zack Fry will dress as the sixth offensive lineman, while fullback Bruno Labelle, receiver KeeSean Johnson, and defensive backs Amari Henderson and Kosi Onyeka remain healthy scratches.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-0) will host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-2) on Sunday, June 23 with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. EDT.
