The Saskatchewan Roughriders returned to practice Tuesday ahead of Friday’s home game against the Toronto Argonauts, with head coach Corey Mace providing injury updates on running back A.J. Ouellette and defensive back Juju Hughes. Both players left Saturday’s 40-37 double-overtime win over the Calgary Stampeders and did not return.
Ouellette considered day-to-day
Ouellette did not participate in Tuesday’s practice, but Mace indicated the injury is not serious. “It’s still trending,” Mace said about Ouellette’s status for Friday. “I gave him a day (off) today and we’ll see how it feels tomorrow.” Mace added that the decision on Ouellette’s availability could be made as late as game day. “Seeing A.J. after the game, and seeing A.J. the last few days, you know, getting some reports back from the docs, it was certainly a relief.”
Hughes to miss extended time
Hughes, who made his first CFL start at halfback in place of the injured Rolan Milligan Jr., suffered a non-contact lower-body injury against the Stampeders and needed help off the field. “That’s a tough one, man,” Mace said. “Unfortunately, he’s going to be out a long time, man. Just tough the way the cookie crumbles, but it’s football, unfortunately. But rough, man. Kid was having a good game, great camp, great player, excellent kid, just wish him well.” Hughes is expected to be placed on the six-game injured list, joining Milligan and long snapper Aaron Crawford, who were injured in Week 2. Linebacker Ryder Varga, receiver Dylan Djete, offensive lineman Darius Bell and defensive lineman Lake Korte-Moore started the season on the six-game list.
Replacement plans and roster moves
With Ouellette limited, American rookie running back Quali Conley and Canadian veteran Thomas Bertrand-Hudon took reps with the starting offence at practice. At halfback, Canadian Jonathan Edouard worked with the starters. Edouard, 30, played 41 games for the Argonauts from 2023 to 2025 before signing with the Roughriders last week. “It’s been a privilege to come in and see the standard that these guys play to, and I’m happy to get in and try to do the same way they are,” Edouard said.
The Roughriders also added defensive back James Burgess Jr. to the roster Tuesday. Burgess, 24, was among Saskatchewan’s final training camp cuts. “That was one of those tough decisions, honestly, at the end of camp,” Mace said. “We thought he had a good camp. It was one of those hard conversations. You just tell him to stay in shape, you just never know (when you’ll be called back). And it was a situation we were able to bring him back.” After being cut, Burgess went home to Alabama before receiving a call from the Roughriders on Sunday asking him to rejoin following the injuries to Milligan and Hughes.
