Rodgers out, Lyles in as injuries shake up Rides defence

Some of the Riders biggest names in defence will be out of the lineup when they play the Redblacks on Friday.

At practice on Wednesday, head coach Chris Jones confirmed defensive back Kacey Rodgers will not play this week because of a leg injury. Jones said he’s unsure how long Rodgers will be out, but he has not been moved to the six-game injured list.

Rodgers has been one of the Riders best cover men this season, racking up 41 tackles, an interception, a touchdown and two forced fumbles.

Twenty-three-year-old Chris Lyles will play in Rodgers’ place. Lyles joined the team in June of this year and played six games for the green and white between June and August. This will be his first game since Aug. 5 against B.C.

The Riders also moved linebackers Otha Foster and Samuel Eguavoen to the six-game injured list. Foster has been battled back stiffness since he first returned to the Roughriders from the NFL in mid-September.

Eguavoen was injured in Saturday’s game in Toronto and did not return.

Fortunately, Jones said he has good depth at the linebacker position with Jeff Knox Jr. ready to step in for Eguavoen.

“(Knox’s) certainly a great player. He got his opportunities down south for a reason, he’s a very good athlete,” Jones said.

On a more positive note, the Riders pulled defensive lineman A.C. Leonard and Mike Edem off the six-game injured list. Both fully participated in practice on Wednesday afternoon.

The Roughriders injury list currently has 17 players on in – minus Leonard and Edem – which include running back Cameron Marshall, receivers Nic Demski and Chad Owens and kicker Quinn van Gylswyk.