The Saskatchewan Roughriders could be getting a major boost to their receiving corps at the perfect time, with the return of KeeSean Johnson and Samuel Emilus potentially reuniting the team’s three-headed monster at receiver.
Emilus, Johnson and Kian Schaffer-Baker all took first-team reps at practice Wednesday, raising the possibility of the trio playing together for the first time since July 23.
With just two games remaining in the regular season, having all three healthy would give quarterback Trevor Harris another weapon as the Roughriders look to get their offence back on track heading toward the playoffs.
“It’s strange to see them in the huddle at the same time,” Harris said after practice. “Whenever you get three all-star calibre receivers that can be in the huddle with you. We haven’t had the good fortune of keeping them healthy the last two years. So if it happens that they are back, that would be great.”
The trio has spent much of the season battling injuries, limiting the amount of time the Roughriders have been able to deploy their top receiving options together.
Johnson has been the most consistent of the three, appearing in 15 games this season. He has recorded 101 receptions for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns, establishing himself as a major target in Saskatchewan’s passing attack.
Schaffer-Baker has also been productive when available. In 10 games, he has caught 63 passes for 961 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 15.3 yards per reception. He missed six games with a lower-body injury.
Emilus has been limited to seven games in 2026. The Canadian receiver has hauled in 38 passes for 514 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 13.5 yards per catch. He last appeared Aug. 23 against the B.C. Lions, when he returned to the lineup after missing three games with a foot injury. He has not played since.
Johnson missed Saskatchewan’s loss to Montreal last week with an ankle injury. Still, his return to practice alongside Emilus and Schaffer-Baker offers hope that the Roughriders could finally have their preferred receiving group available again.
For Harris, the difference would extend beyond simply having three familiar targets back in the lineup.
“Ask Montreal how it would be if (Tyler) Snead and (Tyson) Philpot were out for most of the season,” Harris said. “It would probably change the offence and how they go about things. If you do get them back, it for sure makes a difference.”
Harris added that teams invest in receivers of their calibre for the accolades, attention, and highlight-reel plays they produce.
Emilus believes bringing the trio back together could provide a much-needed spark for a Saskatchewan offence that has struggled for consistency during a difficult stretch.
“The main thing is we just have to finish,” Emilus said. “We’re going to give our best in the last two games of the season. We have to keep doing what we can do, and we will be fine.”
For Emilus, returning to the field is about more than the numbers.
“I’m excited to be back on the field. That is my passion,” he said. “Being on the field and making some plays will bring a spark back to the team.”
The chemistry between the three receivers could be just as important as their individual production. They have developed a connection over the past two seasons, but injuries have prevented them from building on it consistently.
“Just not having us three on the field for two months there, there is some chemistry that we have had since last year,” Emilus said. “We know it is like the three-headed monster. We feed off of each other. With us three back, it is going to bring some power on the offence.”
The Roughriders have seen what the combination can accomplish when all three receivers are available. Johnson provides a reliable target who can rack up receptions, Schaffer-Baker offers a big-play threat downfield, and Emilus brings another dynamic option who can find the end zone.
Together, they give Harris a collection of targets that can stretch a defence and create opportunities across the field.
There is still the matter of getting through the week healthy and being cleared to play, but Wednesday’s practice was an encouraging step for Saskatchewan.
If all three are ready to go, the Roughriders could bring their three-headed monster back together as the regular season winds down and potentially give their offence a significant lift heading into the postseason.
