Harris, Ouellette, Thurman return as Roughriders host Alouettes

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Quarterback Trevor Harris will make his return to the lineup on Friday night as the Saskatchewan Roughriders host the Montreal Alouettes at Mosaic Stadium (7 p.m., TSN) in Week 11 of the CFL season.

After missing seven weeks with a knee injury, the 38-year-old Harris logged a full week of practice and is now set to make his first start since June 23. And while he says he isn’t 100 per cent, he feels ready to go.

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“I can do what I need to do,” said Harris. “I can escape the pocket if I need to. I can move through progressions.

“I wouldn’t be putting myself in a situation or the team in a situation where I couldn’t go out there and play effectively and protect myself.”

Over the past two seasons, the Riders are 6-2 with Harris in the lineup and 5-13-1 without him. Last year, the veteran pivot missed the final 13 games with a knee injury on the other side. In his absence this year, Shea Patterson started all six games, going 2-3-1.

Roster notes

Running back A.J. Ouellette also makes his return from the injured list, while Frankie Hickson heads back to the practice roster.

Ouellette, a prized free agent signing, has missed the last three games with a hip injury.

“If all the chips were pushed in on the table, knowing that guy, he could have (played),” said Riders’ head coach Corey Mace. “But I thought it was the right decision.”

Receiver KeeSean Johnson is suiting up this week as well while Ajou Ajou (one-game injured list) and Jerreth Sterns (practice roster) come off the roster.

The other starting receivers will be Shawn Bane Jr., Samuel Emilus, Mitch Picton and Dohnte Meyers, who will make his second straight start after putting up a 101-yard game in his debut last week. Canadian Dhel Duncan-Busby is also set to make his CFL debut as a backup.

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On the defensive side, Saskatchewan will be getting a key piece back in the lineup as middle linebacker Jameer Thurman returns from a one-game absence while C.J. Avery heads to the one-game injured list.

The Riders will also deploy backup linebackers Zach Philion and Aubrey Miller Jr. after signing both earlier this week. Defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado heads to the one-game injured list, while the team released linebacker Zakoby McClain.

Thurman returns

After suffering an elbow injury in Week 9 against the Edmonton Elks, Thurman was put on the six-game injured list for precautionary reasons ahead of Saskatchewan’s game last week in Ottawa, in which the Riders had just two days at home to prepare for the Redblacks.

However, the middle linebacker has now been pulled from the six-game injured list and is now back in the lineup.

“It was a short week so, didn’t have enough time to figure out what was going on,” said Thurman, who watched his team tie Ottawa last week 22-22. “Now we know the answer and everything.

“I want to be out here with my guys as much as possible; I want to play with them and show that I’m always going to support them.”

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While Thurman didn’t get into the extent of the injury, it’s clear that he takes his recovery seriously.

“Most of my time is either watching film in here or I’m taking care of my body,” said the 6-foot, 227-pound linebacker. “Being at home even when I’m taking a break from watching film, I’m still doing something to take care of my body.

“I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure I’m out there for my guys on game day.”

While Thurman was forced to miss last week’s game in Ottawa, a 22-22 tie against the Ottawa Redblacks, the linebacker was still engaged and even texted some members of the coaching staff with what he was seeing.

“It was honestly hard,” said Thurman. “Even if I wasn’t playing, I wanted to be on the sideline.

“I was hoping to just try to communicate as much as possible pre-game and post-game of what I saw and what we needed. I just wanted to be there any way I can, even if I wasn’t there.”

Ferland’s first

Riders’ offensive lineman Logan Ferland is set to make his first career start at right tackle on Friday.

Ferland — who normally plays right guard — will switch spots with Nick Jones, who made his CFL debut at right tackle last week.

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While it will be the first start for the Melfort product at tackle in his CFL career, he’s played the spot multiple times due to injuries during games.

“Wherever they need me, I’ll play,” said Ferland. “I feel like I’ve always held my own in that spot when I am there and any spot I’ve been in on the o-line, whether it’s centre, guard or tackle.

“I think just gaining the trust in game situations when we needed it, that allowed coach to possibly make that decision if it does come to that.”

Ferland’s last start at tackle came as a member of the Regina Thunder junior football team in 2019. The 27-year-old Melfort product says going from right guard to right tackle is simpler than shifting to the left side of the line.

“When you’re playing on the same side of the line, it’s not as bad,” said Ferland. “Going from guard to tackle on the same side, there’s just a little more space out there.

“You’re more on an island and you don’t have help on both sides so just a lot more space to deal with.”

“Logan could play centre, left tackle … He can play all five (offensive line positions),” added Mace. “He’s proven to do that. He’s jumped around throughout his career.”

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“We feel very confident with him out there. Honestly if that was his spot, I think he could be a perennial starter at right tackle in this league.”

Other side

For Montreal, Davis Alexander is listed as the starting quarterback this week while Cody Fajardo makes his return to the lineup as a backup. Fajardo, a former Rider, hasn’t played since Week 6 after suffering a hamstring injury.

The Alouettes will also be without leading receiver Tyson Philpot.

Rematch ready

Friday’s game will be the second meeting of the season between the Riders and Alouettes after Montreal won the first game 20-16 in Week 8.

In that game, Saskatchewan built up a 16-3 halftime lead before Alexander came off the bench to lead the Alouettes to victory in the second half.

Since then, Alexander has won two straight games for the 8-1 Alouettes, who are coming off a bye week.

“I will say he did catch us off guard a little bit,” said Thurman. “We know what we did wrong in that game. We know we came out flat in the second half and it cost us a win.

“So, we put that on our shoulders as a defence. We’re better than that and we’re going to be better this next time going against them.”

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tshire@postmedia.com

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