AJ Ouellette returns to Riders backfield

AJ Ouellette is back.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders running back will return to the lineup after missing the past six games due to a hip injury. In seven games this season, the prized free agent signing has 466 yards and three touchdowns.

“It felt good. It felt smooth, and it felt like I never left,” Ouellette said earlier in the week after practice. “Being with the guys all throughout the last six games and trying to tell them what I am seeing and all that.”

Ouellette joins the Riders as the CFL club looks to clinch a home playoff game for the first time since 2021. Last week, the Riders clinched a playoff spot for the first time since then as well after a 28-24 win over the Edmonton Elks.

The Riders take on the B.C. Lions on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium. A win means the Riders would host a playoff game. A loss means the Riders would need the Lions to lose in the final week of the regular season paired with a Riders win over the Calgary Stampeders in two weeks. A Winnipeg Blue Bombers loss along with a Riders win on Saturday would mean the Green and White would still have a chance at the top spot in the CFL West Division. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.

While the Riders have punched their ticket to the playoffs, the 29-year-old rusher said this team isn’t satisfied yet.

“We have not been playing good enough long enough so we have to keep that momentum going,” Ouellette said.

Saskatchewan is currently on a three-game winning streak after breaking out of a seven-game winless slide.

“It was good. The team never started pointing fingers or blaming people,” Ouellette said. “It was just, ‘Next game, do your job and it will start clicking once it clicks.’ We have a dang good team right now and everyone is meshing.”

Head coach Corey Mace is glad to see Ouellette back on the field.

“The kind of competitor he is and what he is willing to do for his teammates to bring success for his team is exactly one of the intangibles that we loved about having him here,” Mace said. “For him to be able to strap it up and go out there with his guys, I’m just so happy for him.”

The offensive line will welcome back two key players with Jacob Brammer back at right guard while Zack Fry is back at left guard. Brammer had returned from a knee injury two weeks ago but sat out last week’s game. Fry hasn’t played since the Labour Day Classic due to an elbow injury.

Wide receiver Mitch Picton also returns to the lineup. The versatile Canadian pass-catcher has been out since he was injured Aug. 17 against the Montreal Alouettes.

Defensively, Deontai Williams is back in the starting lineup. He was suspended last week after a dangerous tackle on an Ottawa Redblacks wide receiver the week prior. Defensive end Benoit Marion will play his first game with the Riders after signing on Oct. 4. He has also played for the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats this season.

Riders linebacker C.J. Reavis was fined for committing a non-football action by throwing a punch at Edmonton offensive lineman Jakub Szott. Edmonton linebacker Nyles Morgan has been fined for delivering a blindside block on Riders wide receiver Sam Emilus.