Riders’ Arceneaux looking to finally reach Grey Cup game

Emmanuel Arceneaux has accomplished a lot in his CFL career but there’s one thing missing — a Grey Cup ring.

In fact, the Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback has not even made an appearance in the big game in his nine years playing in Canada.

“I was thinking about that (Thursday) night — just the opportunity we have,” Arceneaux said following practice Friday at Mosaic Stadium.

“Over the course of my career, this is my first time ever experiencing a (playoff) bye, the first time ever experiencing first place and the first time being in the locker room with guys that gel the way we did.

“Just to overcome all the adversity that I had this season, the ups and downs, moments of not knowing if I’m not going to play again, guys leaning on me to be a leader — to finish this thing off right would mean a whole lot to me.”

Arceneaux could get a chance to appear in his first Grey Cup game if the Roughriders defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Division final Sunday at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.

Arceneaux, who before this season had spent his entire CFL career with the B.C. Lions, was trying his luck down south in the NFL when the Lions hoisted the Grey Cup in 2011. Arceneaux returned to the Lions for the 2013 season.

“The years that I was gone, I always made my way back to B.C. to watch guys play and always kept a relationship with Wally (Buono, who then was the Lions’ head coach and general manager),” said Arceneaux, 32. “I was excited for everybody … but I was like, ‘Damn, I wish I could’ve got me a ring.’

“But I had another plan and that was experiencing the opportunity to actually play in the NFL, so it worked out for me. Unfortunately I didn’t end up with a Grey Cup but I have a chance this year to get one.”

Arceneaux joined the Roughriders this off-season after a 2018 season in which he tore a knee ligament on Oct. 25 against the Roughriders.

Arceneaux played in nine games for Saskatchewan before being replaced by Jordan Williams-Lambert for three games. The team elected to make the move back to Arceneaux ahead of its meeting with the Edmonton Eskimos on Oct. 26.

“It has been a roller-coaster but you just have to trust the process and do your job,” Arceneaux said. “I think up to this point I’ve carried that role pretty well, doing what has been asked of me by the coaches and the organization so it’s just something that I’m going to continue to do — do my job and continue to lead.”

During his career, Arceneaux has recorded 8,418 receiving yards and 57 touchdowns. But he said winning a Grey Cup ring would mean a lot to him and his legacy.

“That would kind of seal the deal for me,” he said. “That would be the exclamation mark after the sentence right there — a Grey Cup ring.”

The Green Zone pre-game show gets underway Sunday at 1 p.m.