REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be receiving a pair of valuable reinforcements heading into their Week 8 CFL contest against the Edmonton Elks.
While standout defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. was ruled as questionable in the final injury report this week as he recovers from a shoulder injury, he’ll be making his return to the line-up in the West Division first-place showdown.
The former Most Outstanding Defensive Player suffered a separated shoulder in Week 1 against the B.C. Lions and hasn’t played since.
"It's a long season, man, and bad that it happened, but it happened early in the season, so it gives me a chance to get back," Milligan Jr. said of recovering and getting back on the field. "Just being smart and knowing that there's plenty more football to play and don't go too early."
There's little question that Milligan Jr. and his defensive teammates will be put through a test against a dangerous Elks defence, but he's of the opinion that if everyone takes care of their part of the field, things will turn out just fine.
"Just do my job," he said of his goal for the game. "We got 11 other guys on the field that I'm banking on them doing their job, too. So if we all do our job, we should be good."
Joining Milligan Jr. in making his return is running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon, who missed the Week 6 contest against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with a concussion. He slots in behind starter A.J. Ouellette and gives Saskatchewan a bit of breathing room at the position after Ouellette played without a backup against the TiCats.
Saskatchewan’s defensive line also receives a boost, with Canadian end Benoit Marion returning from a shoulder injury.
The Roughriders defence plays its first game without linebacker Jayden Dalke, who died in a motor vehicle accident on July 18.
As expected given the apparent severity of his injury against Hamiton, returner Mathew Sexton has been moved to the six-game list with an ankle injury. Fullback Morgan Runge also moves to the six-game with a chest injury.
The contest will feature a milestone, as Kerfalla Exume is set to play his 100th CFL game and will back up Jaxon Ford at safety.
"It means keep on playing selflessly, playing for the team, and just going out there and do what I've been doing from the beginning," Exume said when asked what it means to get to this point of his career.
"I'm proud of where I've been and there's a lot of people to give thanks for being where I am right now. And it's just giving my all, my 100 percent, every time I step on the field to make them proud and honour everybody that's been believing in me."
In one other piece of roster news, the Riders announced Wednesday that they have released American defensive lineman Justin Weaver.
The Rider Broadcast Network will have all your coverage of Thursday night’s contest, with the pregame show with Teagan Witko and Wes Cates beginning 4 p.m., followed by the Voice of the Roughriders Dave Thomas an analyst Luc Mullinder with the game call at 7 p.m.
