Riders QB Trevor Harris ‘very close’ to returning

Trevor Harris is “very close” to returning, but the Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback won’t be back this week.

The 27-year-old quarterback was eligible to return to practice this week ahead of the Riders showdown against the Edmonton Elks as it is the week heading into his fifth game on the six-game injured list, but he has remained off to the side.

“Trevor is very close. He just has to get a few things hammered out from the medical staff,” said Riders head coach Corey Mace.

Harris was injured in the team’s third game of the season – a 36-20 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Mosaic Stadium.

Harris, who missed most of last season with a tibial plateau fracture, suffered an MCL sprain in his other knee this time around.

Prior to his injury, Harris threw for 872 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions while the Riders got off to an undefeated start.

While it isn’t expected to be a season-ending injury, Mace admitted there was a chance he could still be put on an injured list after this six-game stretch is up.

“There’s always a chance but we want to make sure we look at it from the totality of the season,” Mace said. “He’s very close.”

In his absence, Shea Patterson has the Riders currently sitting at a 5-2 record, going 2-2 during the four games Harris has missed.

Patterson has thrown for 994 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception during that time.

In other injury news, right tackle Jacob Brammer suffered an injury at Wednesday’s practice. Brammer walked off the field with a noticeable limp and was carted to the locker room.

“We’re still trying to get a little bit more information on that,” Mace said. “I’m hoping that it just looked scarier than it actually was.”

Brammer was already in for the injured Jermarcus Hardrick (quad).

The Riders could also be without defensive tackle Anthony Lanier II (knee), with Mace saying it would be tough for the defensive lineman to play this week.