Through years as a backup, Riders’ Fajardo waited for opportunity

Cody Fajardo had to play the waiting game to get a chance to start in the CFL.

Before joining the Saskatchewan Roughriders this off-season, Fajardo spent two seasons as the backup to quarterback Ricky Ray with the Toronto Argonauts and one season with the B.C. Lions behind Travis Lulay and Jonathon Jennings.

Fajardo said it can be tough to be on the sidelines but the uniqueness of the CFL made things easier.

“Luckily for me, I’ve been a short-yardage guy so I’ve been able to go and contribute to the team by going in and scoring touchdowns (or) getting first downs,” Fajardo said after practice Wednesday at Mosaic Stadium.

“What really appealed to me in this league — and that’s why I love the CFL so much — is that it’s not like you’re a backup quarterback and you just hold the clipboard on the sideline.”

The 27-year-old admitted there were times he wasn’t sure if he would ever get an opportunity.

“Every time going into free agency, it was always scary,” Fajardo said. “You never know if your phone is going to ring, especially if you don’t have much tape out there. I just was hopeful that I did enough every time I had an opportunity and in short yardage for a team to take a chance on me.”

Fajardo signed with Saskatchewan in the off-season and was set to back up the incumbent starter, Zach Collaros. But an injury to Collaros just three plays into a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on June 13 finally cracked open the door for Fajardo.

He has gone ahead and kicked it open through two starts.

His 790 passing yards over the past two weeks are the second-most in CFL history for a quarterback making his first two starts. The top spot belongs to former Calgary Stampeders pivot Jeff Garcia, who threw for 991 yards in his first two starts in 1995.

Fajardo’s play on Monday against Toronto — 24 completions in 31 attempts for 430 yards and two touchdowns with a rushing TD as well — earned him honours as one of the CFL’s top performers of the week.

He attributed his success to waiting in the wings behind some of the CFL’s best and learning the game.

“I picked things in their game that I really liked and some things that don’t fit me,” Fajardo said. “(It was important) just having those years to look at my strengths and my weaknesses and go from there.”

Offensive co-ordinator Stephen McAdoo said Fajardo has come in throwing the ball confidently, especially down the field.

“He’s not going to shy away from anything,” McAdoo said. “But with any quarterback you always have to kind of save them from themselves.

“We know what Cody does best and we try to make sure we hone in on those things. For him, he’s not afraid of anything and that’s a good thing.”

Centre Dan Clark has snapped the ball to a few quarterbacks since signing with the Roughriders in 2012, including Darian Durant, Kevin Glenn and Collaros.

Clark said Fajardo brings a mixture of skills and tools to the position.

“His knowledge, his mobility (and) his decision-making,” Clark said. “Being able to snap to lots of quarterbacks, you get a feel for what kind of guy you’re going to be blocking for. We have a next-man-up mentality and Cody’s doing a great job for us.”

Despite the recent success, Fajardo knows to temper expectations.

“I know not every game is going to go like the last two and we’re going to run into some adversity,” Fajardo said. “It’s just overcoming that adversity and it’s a long season and we have to have the guys around (the offence) continue to play the way we are playing.”

Fajardo will face a tough test as he tries to build off his early success. The Stampeders will be in Regina for a West Division showdown Saturday.

The status of Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell remains up in the air because of an injury he suffered Saturday against the Lions.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. The Green Zone pre-game show begins at 6 p.m.

Notes

Cornerback Nick Marshall didn’t participate in Wednesday’s practice due to an ankle injury … Kicker Brett Lauther has an injured groin and did not participate in practice. As insurance, the team signed kicker Gabriel Ferraro to the practice squad Wednesday … Wide receiver K.D. Cannon (groin) didn’t practise. Rookie receiver Justin McInnis will start Saturday if Cannon is unable to go … Linebacker Sam Hurl (undisclosed) did not practise … Head coach Craig Dickenson said that, as of Wednesday, wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux wasn’t ready to start. But Dickenson said there’s a “chance” that linebacker Solomon Elimimian will play.