Riders’ Shea Patterson becomes a dad amid first CFL starts

Shea Patterson has had a whirlwind few weeks.

Not only has the Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback started his first two games in the CFL – with the third coming Friday night against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers – but he welcomed his first child Carter into the world on July 6.

“I’m missing the heck out of them right now,” Patterson said. “It was an awesome weekend.”

It came just hours after he helped the Riders to a 30-23 win over the Toronto Argonauts in his first start due to Trevor Harris suffering an MCL injury.

“The atmosphere here was electric and it was an awesome night. I had so much fun with my teammates against Toronto,” Patterson said. “Nothing quite like that experience here at Mosaic Stadium. Awesome for that to be my first game.”

Patterson attended run down the next day before flying to Detroit at 6 a.m. to be there for the birth of Carter.

“Got in around 1:30 p.m. in Detroit and had the baby about 3:30-4 p.m. And I got to spend the night with them and little Carter,” Patterson said.

He has also received some advice from some of the more veteran dads on the team.

“The main thing is to just enjoy every moment of it. I’m enjoying it as much as I can being a thousand miles away – talking to him and Facetiming him throughout the entire day,” Patterson said.

On the field, Patterson is preparing for a showdown against the Bombers after the team’s first loss of the season – a 35-20 defeat at the hands of the B.C. Lions.

“Coming off a game like that, our ultimate goal is to win a championship here and bring a championship to this province,” Patterson said. “Our expectations are high.”

The Riders will be without a major part of their offensive line with Jermarcus Hardrick out long-term with a quad injury.

Coming into the lineup will be Jacob Brammer, who will be making his first career CFL start.

“Losing Hardrick was big. He’s a leader on our team and the energy he brings to huddle is contagious and into the room is contagious as well,” Patterson said. “Brammer has done a great job coming in and trying to fill those big shoes that he has to fill.”

“He has done a great job in practice all week and we believe in him and trust in him. He has done a good job of staying ready and staying in it through the first part of the season.”

Kickoff for the game against the Riders and Bombers showdown is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mosaic Stadium.