Latest news with #CoreyMace
CTV News
a day ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Roughriders' head coach confident Trevor Harris will be available post bye week
Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris (7) high-fives some fans on his way off the field after the conclusion of the CFL Hamilton Tiger Cats home opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Hamilton, Ont., on Saturday, June 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power Saskatchewan Roughriders' head coach Corey Mace expects starting quarterback Trevor Harris to return to the lineup after the team's Week 5 bye. 'Trevor will be fine,' Mace said following Saskatchewan's 37-18 win over the B.C. Lions Saturday. 'The timing for the protocol didn't work out.' 'I would expect him to be ready for Calgary,' he added. Harris missed two practices last week as he entered the league's concussion protocol, in addition to what the team described as an illness – forcing the quarterback to be sidelined Saturday night. Backup Jake Maier started in Harris' place. 'We have to find roles in this organization,' Maier said after recording his first win as a member of the Riders. 'I really enjoyed contributing to the team tonight and when they need me, they need me.' 'Whatever the future holds, I'm going to be a great teammate and make sure I'm ready for whenever I'm needed again,' he added. Mace adds the bye week is coming at a really good time. Other offensive weapons like Shawn Bane Jr. and Samuel Emilus joined Harris on the one-game injured list this past week. Offensive lineman Payton Collins has also been week-to-week with a knee injury he sustained in Week 1. 'I know the guys are looking forward to it,' he said. 'Certainly, we're waiting for a couple of guys to see what their status is coming off the bye and a little bit of time off. Even though it's only four games in, [it is a] physical, physical football game.' It wasn't all good news Saturday night. Saskatchewan's offensive line experienced another blow. Guard Trevon Tate suffered an upper-body injury in the second quarter. He appeared to be favouring his arm and was taken to the locker room and did not return for the remainder of the game. There was no available update on his status but the guard was seen in a sling after the game, according to Mace. Running back Thomas Bertand-Hudon also left Saturday's game with a non-contact injury and did not return. Star tailback A.J. Ouellette agreed the bye is coming at an opportunistic time. 'Excited to get some receivers back,' he told reporters. 'Hopefully some of the offensive line can recover.' Others like LB C.J. Avery, OL Phillipe Gagnon and WR Kian Schaffer-Baker remain on the six-game injured list and are not expected to return after the bye. With this week's bye, the team will not practice and does not play a game until July 11 when they host the Calgary Stampeders. The Riders head into its Week 5 bye with a 4-0 record, the exact same record they had in 2024 in head coach Corey Mace's inaugural season at the helm. Saskatchewan's best start to a season is 6-0, which it achieved in 2008.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Riders' Trevor Harris out against Lions, team has ‘full confidence' behind Jake Maier
Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Jake Maier (9) looks downfield during the first half of pre-season CFL football action against Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Regina, on Friday, May 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris has been placed on the one-game injured list and will not dress for the team's Week 4 match-up against the B.C. Lions. In his place, back-up Jake Maier will start for the Green and White Saturday. Head coach Corey Mace told reporters Friday that Harris did not clear the league's concussion protocol in time to play on the weekend. 'He was dealing with a multifaceted thing,' Mace said. 'We were trying to decipher what was what. But once we did declare we put him into protocol, there's certain steps you have to take and it didn't matchup time wise.' 'Also, it's let's be smart,' Mace added. As a result, Maier will be under centre for the Riders Saturday night at Mosaic Stadium. 'As a backup quarterback on any team, you never know when your number's going to be called,' the pivot said. 'It's bittersweet because you want everybody ready to go, healthy and ready to play.' Maier has made 45 previous CFL starts, all with the Calgary Stampeders. 'You learn pretty quickly you just pretend you're the starter,' Maier joked. 'And then you wake up on gameday and you're not. You are just there just in case.' The fifth-year quarterback says he's prepared to lead the team Saturday, and ready for a fresh start with Saskatchewan. 'For the first three weeks, I couldn't be more proud to be a part of this organization, around coach Mace and the culture he's created here,' Maier said. 'You hear a lot about it from the outside. But when you're in these walls, you really feel it.' 'Going into this week, there was a question mark there, so there's heightened urgency to make sure the offence doesn't skip a beat' he added. Despite Harris' inability to get cleared, Maier said he was a big part of the offence's preparation and meetings. Something Maier credited to his own readiness to take the reins. 'Trevor has an awesome routine,' Maier said about his starter. 'There are little things he specifically likes to look for throughout the week. And to be a fly on the wall and say, 'I can adopt this,' is a nice growth moment for me personally.' Mace reiterated the team's confidence behind Maier. 'We have full confidence to execute with Jake being back there,' he said. 'Having enough reps in this league, he's faced a lot of teams, [been with] a lot of play callers and he's pretty familiar with stuff.' 'You don't really have to change too much when you have a veteran quarterback there,' Mace added. 'To feel [the adrenalin] in front of a home crowd I know is going to be excited, against a division rival, is going to be one of those out-of-body experiences that you always look forward to,' Maier said. Jake Maier Saskatchewan Roughriders' QB Jake Maier takes snaps during practice with the first team offense on June 25, 2025 (Donovan Maess) Lions' Quarterback situation Nathan Rourke's availability remains a question mark for the B.C. Lions Saturday night. The quarterback sustained a core injury in the team's Week 2 loss to Winnipeg, which kept him on the sidelines last week. Rourke was a limited participant at Lions practice all week, splitting first team reps with veteran Jeremiah Masoli through the first two sessions, before taking no reps with the starters in Thursday's final practice. 'Today is no indication of what might happen in the next week,' Lions head coach Buck Pierce told TSN Thursday. 'He'll be a gametime decision for sure.' 'There is not a lot of reps on day three, mainly short yardage situation things,' he added If Rourke can't go, it will be 14-year CFL veteran Masoli under centre after stepping into the starting role last week. The 36-year-old struggled in BC's 27-14 loss to Winnipeg, only managing eight offensive points, completing 25-of-44 passes for 281 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. '[I'm] excited to get back out there,' Masoli said. '[Rourke] is smart enough to listen to his body. Whatever he says goes with that stuff.' Pierce said there is a possibility both quarterbacks get game action Saturday. 'You want all your quarterbacks to make sure they're comfortable,' he said. 'I want to make sure he's ready to go if called upon.' League rules stipulate the Lions have until one hour prior to kickoff to make a final decision on Rourke's availability. 'There's a reason coaches do it. It was one less night I had to hang with my kids,' Mace said with a smile. 'But you have to be prepared for any situation. We have to be prepared for [Chase] Brice as well.' 'It's just part of doing the due diligence as a coach and being able to have answers for the guys,' he added. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium Saturday. - With files from TSN.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
‘We're a unit': Roughriders defense pacing field in QB sacks heading into Week 4
WATCH: Saskatchewan Roughriders' head coach Corey Mace speaks on QB Trevor Harris' availability for Week 4 matchup against BC.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
‘Game time decision': Harris' availability for Riders still questionable despite return to practice
Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris (7) throws against the Ottawa Redblacks during the first half of CFL football action in Regina, on Thursday, June 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu Saskatchewan Roughriders' quarterback Trevor Harris was a full participant at the team's closed practice Thursday, according to head coach Corey Mace. 'It was good to see him back out here doing his thing,' Mace told reporters after practice. 'We'll look at the tape and make the decision today.' Harris took a hard hit to the head in the final minute of the first quarter of Friday night's game in Toronto against the Argonauts. There was a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty called on the play and Harris remained under centre to finish the game. Through two practices this week, the team has listed Harris with a head injury and an illness. Mace said Wednesday Harris' absence from practice was concussion related but that he had cleared nearly all protocols to be back on the field Thursday. Despite being a full participant in practice, Harris' availability remains questionable for Saturday night when the Riders host the B.C. Lions. 'Truthfully, it might be a game time decision,' Mace said. 'Today was a big one. We played it smart and we want to make sure we're taking care of it.' 'But to have him come back out here was big time for us,' the head coach added. To start the week, back-up Jake Maier was taking reps with the first team offense. He said he is prepared if Harris is unavailable this week. Saskatchewan takes on the B.C. Lions at home Saturday. Kickoff is 5 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium.
National Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
QB Harris questionable; Maier prepared to start for Roughriders
Article content Jake Maier will be ready if his number is called. Article content With Saskatchewan Roughriders starting quarterback Trevor Harris missing two days of practice this week due to a 'head/illness' injury designation, Maier got the starting reps early in the week before Harris returned to the practice field as a full participant on Thursday for the team's closed workout. Article content Article content Roughriders head coach Corey Mace said Harris' status for Saturday's Week 4 CFL contest (5 p.m., TSN, CTV) that will see Saskatchewan (3-0) host the B.C. Lions (1-2) is still to be determined as Harris is officially listed as 'questionable' on the injury report. Article content 'It was good to see him back out here doing his thing,' Mace said Thursday. 'We played it smart; wanted to make sure that we're taking care of it, but to have him come back out here (Thursday) was big time for us. Article content 'It might be game-time decision maybe how we list it.' Article content In Week 3 against the Argonauts, while Harris was feeling under the weather according to his post-game comments, he also took a big hit to the helmet in the game. On Thursday, Argonauts defensive lineman Jordan Williams was fined by the CFL for the hit, which was deemed to be late. Harris was knocked to the turf but didn't miss a play. Article content As for Maier, despite the additional practice reps this week, the veteran of 45 career starts in the CFL hasn't changed his preparation. Article content 'I think the last three weeks have been pretty much the same status quo,' Maier said this week. 'Yeah, you get in there and get a few more reps, because that's what your team is asking you to do and that's it's business as usual for me in the situation I'm in.' Article content Article content Last season, the 28-year-old California native started 15 games for the Calgary Stampeders — throwing for 3,841 yards with 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions — before being removed as the starter and traded to Saskatchewan this off-season. Article content Article content After signing an extension to remain with the Green and White, the 6-foot-0, 200-pound Maier knew he was going to be a backup to Harris, who has been the team's starter for three seasons. Article content 'I've had positive influences from coaches, from teammates and I think when you go from one place to the next and you kind of start over a little bit like you come across more gratitude … Just thankful to be a part of the league still and be a part of an organization that believes in you.'
