‘He’s shown that he’s healthy’: Cody Fajardo to start in West final

Cody Fajardo will be the one leading the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offence to begin the CFL’s West Division final.

The 27-year-old quarterback was confirmed as the starting quarterback for the playoff showdown by head coach Craig Dickenson on Saturday. Fajardo has been dealing with an oblique injury he suffered on Oct. 30 that forced him to miss the regular-season finale against the Edmonton Eskimos.

“He’s shown that he’s healthy. He’s going to have some soreness and some stiffness but he’s shown that he can execute and run the offence the way we need him to,” Dickenson said at Mosaic Stadium. “We feel like he’s going to be good.”

Kickoff for the West final against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is set for 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Fajardo, the CFL’s passing yards leader and West Division nominee for most outstanding player, said the recovery process has been frustrating for him.

“It’s been taxing body-wise, mentally a little bit taxing but the medical staff did a tremendous job,” Fajardo said. “We uncovered every stone possible to get me to feeling as confident and comfortable as I can be … It’s put me in a position to go out there and hopefully play some good football.”

Fajardo, who has thrown for 4,302 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 611 yards and 10 scores, will face off against Zach Collaros for the first time since Collaros was traded from the Roughriders to Toronto Argonauts on July 31. The Argonauts sent Collaros to Winnipeg on Oct. 9.

Fajardo said he has to be aware if his injury begins to have a negative effect on the team’s chances to pull out the win.

“If I get out there and things aren’t going right, I have to be able to pull myself out of the game if I know I can’t get certain things done,” Fajardo said. “It would be selfish of me to go out there and put our team at risk knowing I can’t do the things that are asked by (offensive co-ordinator Stephen McAdoo) or our offence.”

The quarterback said he’s played through injury before, including a torn MCL.

Fajardo could have some different weapons to throw to in the game.

Slotback Patrick Lavoie will make his season debut in the West final. Lavoie said he’s been dealing with a back injury since last season’s West semifinal.

“We thought that it would go away kind of by itself and at training camp we realized that we needed to take some more time,” Lavoie said.

Lavoie said he had surgery around nine weeks ago and feels physically ready to take the field.

The eight-year CFL veteran said it was the first time he’s ever been on an injured list and said it’s been tough to watch the team from the sidelines.

“Especially seeing your teammates and your buddies go out onto the field and you’re not feeling like you’re doing your part for the team,” Lavoie said. “Right now I’m just really happy to be back on the field and be able to look at those guys and do my part on the field.”

Meanwhile, wide receiver Shaq Evans remains a game-time decision as he deals with a toe injury. If he is unable to go, Kenny Stafford would make his Roughriders debut Sunday.

Stafford was traded from Edmonton to the Roughriders on Aug. 5 but hasn’t suited up for a game in Green and White.

“We traded for (Stafford) for a reason, he’s a good football player. The fact he hasn’t played is good luck on our behalf because we’ve been healthy. At the time we traded for him we didn’t have good depth and we were one injury away from having problems there,” Dickenson said. “He’s practised well all season, he’s ready to go.”

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