Charleston Hughes was trying to get in Cody Fajardo’s head with friendly chirps, but attempts didn’t work

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo was hearing chips from surefire Hall of Famer Charleston Hughes in his return to Mosaic Stadium.

After a contract dispute with the Riders in the off-season, Hughes signed with the Toronto Argonauts and made it known Friday, September 17 was circled on his 2021 regular season schedule. The star pass rusher was running his mouth on the turf during his first trip back to play in Regina.

“He definitely had some things to say, but when our offence is driving the field and we’re finishing with seven points, it closes people’s mouths pretty quick,” Fajardo said.

Saskatchewan received the opening kick-off and Fajardo capped an eight-play, 78-yard drive with a touchdown on the ground to put the Riders ahead immediately 7-0. The 29-year-old QB passed for two majors to finish the outing opposite Hughes with three total touchdowns and a decisive 30-16 win.

“When you score, that’s how you quiet the noise around you,” Fajardo said.

Fajardo and Hughes were teammates for one season together in green and white. That was in 2019 when No. 7 emerged as a bonafide franchise quarterback while Hughes led the league with 16 sacks that same year. The two men were CFL all-stars as Saskatchewan went 13-5 to earn first place in the ultra competitive West Division.

“I just smile and nod because I know deep down me and Charleston have a good friendship and the things that he says, it’s just trying to get in my head,” Fajardo said.

“That’s just part of the mental game, people try and get in the quarterback’s head. I got a lot of respect for Charleston, I think he’s one of the best pass rushers ever in the CFL. ”

Hughes proved that statement to Fajardo by sacking him and notching the 131st quarterback takedown of his career. It was the first match-up as opponents since Fajardo became a starting QB.