Riders’ Harris returns to the field; backup spot still a battle

While the backup quarterbacks are still battling for their spots, the starter returned to the field Monday for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Trevor Harris returned to practice after leaving the team last week to be in Ohio for the birth of his third child. Tripp Joseph Harris was born Thursday.

“It was awesome. It was a beautiful moment,” Harris said after practice at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon. “I got there about nine hours before the baby did.

“It was just truly an amazing moment. I sent (Craig Dickenson, Craig Reynolds, Jeremy O’Day and Kyle Carson) a text and told them I appreciated their professionalism and how they handed things.

“They didn’t give me a choice. They said, ‘You’re going to be there for your kid’s birth.’ Not that I would’ve wanted to miss it at all, but they made it very easy.”

So it was back to work Monday for Harris, who will prepare for Friday’s CFL pre-season game in Winnipeg against the Blue Bombers. Kickoff for the game is set for 6:30 p.m.

“I felt like I was the new guy because I missed the pre-season game (Saturday against the B.C. Lions) but it was fun coming out here and (getting) reps and (feeling) the speed of the game again,” Harris said. “It was nice.”

Dickenson, the Roughriders’ head coach, said the plan is for the 36-year-old Harris to get a good number of reps in during the team’s second pre-season game.

“We’re going to get (Harris) out there. We’ve got a checklist of things we want to see him do. Once that checklist is done, we will sit him,” Dickenson said. “We’re probably going to give him some work in the first quarter and maybe into the second as well.”

Once again, the backup quarterbacks will take centre stage in the pre-season.

All three did well during their time in the 30-27 win over the Lions.

Jake Dolegala threw for 97 yards and a touchdown, Mason Fine completed eight of 10 passes for 110 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, and Shea Patterson contributed with 77 yards and a touchdown.

“I didn’t expect myself to be pacing around my living room, especially for a pre-season game, but I was getting hyped watching Jake and Shea and Mason and all the guys making plays,” Harris said. “It was a joy to watch the guys and I am thrilled to be back.

“The (quarterbacks) were in a great rhythm and they have all had a really good camp. It has been fun to watch them learn and grow in camp.”

With the trio playing so well, Dickenson admitted it didn’t make the coaches’ decision easier.

“We got some clarity at other positions but not at the quarterback,” Dickenson said. “I thought all of them played well so it is going to be a strenuous week for the quarterbacks. We are going to test them a bit and hopefully one of them separates.”

Notes: Defensive back Godfrey Onyeka was added to the injured list with a shoulder/pec injury picked up in the pre-season game. Dickenson doesn’t know how serious it is but the coaches anticipate Onyeka missing a lot of time … The team released defensive back Kendarius Webster. The move, along with shifting Onyeka to the injured list, allowed the Riders to sign offensive lineman Adonis Boone and bring back wide receiver Isaiah McKoy … Receivers Juwan Brescacin (shoulder), Jake Wieneke (hamstring), Tevin Jones (hamstring) and Derel Walker (groin) are dealing with minor injuries.