The Saskatchewan Roughriders will have one of their top offensive weapons back when they face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday.
Running back A.J. Ouellette returns to the backfield after a two-game absence because of an ankle injury, and he’s excited to get at it again.
“I just get to play football,” a smiling Ouellette told reporters. “It’s the best.”
Ouellette rushed the ball 33 times for 153 yards over his first two games, adding three catches for 18 yards, before leaving a Week 3 win over the Calgary Stampeders.
Ouellette felt as though he could have finished that game but said caution was exercised at running backs coach Andrew Harris’ behest.
Rookie Quali Conley started in Ouellette’s place for the last two Saskatchewan contests and had 20 carries for 107 yards with one touchdown, in addition to three receptions for 17 yards. Conley is out Sunday with Ouellette starting, and so is Thomas Bertrand-Hudon because of a head injury. Those changes leave the Riders with just one active running back.
Quarterback Trevor Harris said he’s “prepared for what our roster is.” Coach Corey Mace joked that he’ll be running more quarterback draws for Harris.
Having Ouellette return to the roster is the most important thing, despite the limited depth at the position.
“It means a lot,” Mace said. “I don’t want to take anything away from Conley and Thomas, who did a really good job for us, but A.J.’s been our guy the last three years. To have him out here is, there’s a sense of comfortability. He’s a heck of a player. He helps us.
“Any time he’s available, we’re always happy as a team.”
The Roughriders managed a 1-1 record sans Ouellette. He believes the offence has more to give.
“We’re just not consistent yet,” Ouellette said. “But we’ve got playmakers everywhere.”
Ouellette is coming off a solid 2025 campaign where he played 17 games. He recorded 248 carries for 1,222 yards, both career highs, while catching 35 balls for 250 yards. He reached the end zone nine times, including eight as the ball carrier.
The 30-year-old rusher now has a chance to better those marks this season and is thankful his injury wasn’t worse.
“You get that scare when you come in the next day from the game,” Ouellette said. “They give you a scooter and boot. You’re like, ‘It’s not that bad. Come on.’ Then you get the imaging, and it comes back, and you’re good. You brush off a brow and get back to rehab.”
That rehab has led him back to the field. He’s been missed. His teammates are glad to have the 5-foot-8, 210-pound running back in action again.
“A.J.’s great. He’s one of my all-time favourite teammates,” Harris said. “He brings an attitude, a tenacity, a certain body language, and joy to the game. Even though sometimes he can be an angry, little elf, he’s the man. He’s one of my best friends, and somebody I’ll be close to until the end. Just sharing the huddle with him is a pleasure. I’m grateful that I get to be his teammate. He does definitely lift up the team in terms of who he is and what he brings.”
