Final Roughiders roster cuts likely already decided

Photo courtesy: Saskatchewan Roughriders

A Wednesday night meeting in Regina has likely sealed the fate of the entire Saskatchewan
Roughriders roster.

Head coach Craig Dickenson met with his coaching staff before going to general
manager Jeremy O’Day to confirm the final cuts for the start of the 2021 CFL season.

“We try to get input from everybody so we’ll meet as a staff,” Dickenson said following Wednesday’s training camp workout at Mosaic Stadium.

“I’ve asked the offensive and defensive coaches to get together as a staff before that within
their groups and really just give me their starting lineup. Who they want to see on the field
August 6.”

Dickenson revealed that he doesn’t actually have final say over the roster, but he and O’Day agree “99 per cent of the time.”

“Our coaches get a lot of input. I think they work hard in evaluating and coaching their guys, but ultimately, it’s the football ops department and Jeremy that decides who is on this team,” Dickenson said.

The news many Rider fans are eager to hear before Friday night’s 10 p.m. ET cutdown deadline will be who backs up quarterback Cody Fajardo. A competition believed to be hotly contested between incumbent Isaac Harker, former NFL first-round pick, Paxton Lynch, Tom Flacco, the younger brother of Super Bowl XLVII champion Joe Flacco, and Mason Fine have all been in camp.

Dickenson expects the team to carry three quarterbacks.