The Saskatchewan Roughriders have found their replacement for Jermarcus Hardrick at right tackle.
With Hardrick (knee) headed to the six-game injured list and likely to undergo surgery, the team will turn to Jacob Brammer to potentially hold down the fort for the remainder of the season. The 25-year-old will make his first career appearance on Friday against Winnipeg.
Brammer wrapped up his collegiate career in 2022 with the University of Vanderbilt, where he recorded 11 starts at right tackle and allowed just three sacks. The six-foot-four, 301-pound blocker previously spent four seasons at the University of North Texas, starting 35 of the 38 games he played.
The native of Richmond, Tex. played a whopping 3,451 offensive snaps over the course of his college career and surrendered just 10 sacks. He was a second-team All-Conference USA honouree in 2020 and an honourable mention in 2021.
The Riders will get a small boost on the other side of the line, as starting defensive end Malik Carney returns to the lineup after missing last week with a knee injury. The 28-year-old has five tackles in four games since coming over in free agency from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and will bump linebacker Zakoby McClain back to the practice roster.
In addition to Hardrick, Saskatchewan is still missing quarterback Trevor Harris, fullback Bruno Labelle, receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby, offensive linemen Noah Zerr and Philip Blake, defensive linemen Christian Albright and Charbel Dabire, and linebacker Nick Wiebe to the six-game injured list. Defensive end Nicholas Dheilly (shoulder) remains on the one-game injured list, while defensive back Amari Henderson is a healthy scratch.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1) will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-4) on Friday, July 19 at 9:30 p.m. EDT.
