The Saskatchewan Roughriders will rest a number of key offensive players for their regular season finale against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.
Head coach Craig Dickenson told the media today that quarterback Cody Fajardo, running back William Powell, receiver Duke Williams, and centre Dan Clark will not dress in Week 16. At 9-4, the Riders have already secured second place in the West Division and will host the West Semi-Final on Sunday, Nov. 28 at Mosaic Stadium.
This will mark the first time this season that Fajardo hasn’t started for the Riders. Isaac Harker has dressed as the backup all season, though former first-round NFL draft pick Paxton Lynch and North Texas product Mason Fine have also been with the club all year.
Harker started Saskatchewan’s final game of the 2019 regular season after they’d clinched first in the West Division, leading the club to a 23-13 victory over Edmonton. He previously saw action in this year’s Banjo Bowl after Fajardo left due to injury, completing 10-of-13 pass attempts for 89 yards.
Saskatchewan has two other running backs on the active roster in Jamal Morrow and Kienan LaFrance. Morrow has exclusively served as a return specialist this season, while LaFrance has rushed seven times for 43 yards as a depth Canadian.
Fajardo will finish the 2021 season with 281 completions for 2,970 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions as well as 78 carries for 468 yards and four touchdowns.
