‘I just felt like I got stabbed’: Fajardo’s status still in doubt

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo admitted Friday afternoon that if his next game was to be played that evening, he wouldn’t be able to go.

Fajardo strained an oblique muscle during Wednesday’s closed practice while throwing a pass.

“I threw a deep ball to my left to (slotback Emmanuel Arceneaux) and found myself on my knees on the ground,” Fajardo told reporters on Friday, one day after he missed Saskatchewan’s practice.

“I just felt like I got stabbed.”

Ahead of Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Eskimos, Fajardo appeared atop the Roughriders’ depth chart at quarterback. But both he and head coach Craig Dickenson admitted there’s still a chance Fajardo won’t suit up.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game at Mosaic Stadium is set for 2 p.m. The Green Zone pre-game show is to start at noon.

“He doesn’t feel very good (Friday) but he feels better than he did (Thursday),” Dickenson said. “We’re hopeful he wakes up in the morning and feels really well.

“I’m not overly optimistic, but we’re going to wait until (Saturday) to decide (his status).”

Fajardo said he doesn’t want to play unless he can be effective as a quarterback.

“If I go out there and happen to injure it even significantly more than what it is, then we’re talking about my season being over,” Fajardo said. “For me personally, I would rather go out dying in a playoff game than I would in a regular-season game.

“That decision hasn’t been made yet. I’ve got an opportunity to wake up (Saturday) and hopefully feel great.”

If Fajardo can’t go, rookie Isaac Harker and veteran backup Bryan Bennett would be the two main options at quarterback.

Neither man has started a CFL game in his career. Harker has attempted 33 passes in spot duty this season while Bennett has not thrown the ball in a game once.

Dickenson said Harker would get the start but Bennett would also see playing time if Fajardo doesn’t play.

The Roughriders can earn the right to play host to the West Division final with a win over the Eskimos. If Saskatchewan loses, it can still clinch top spot in the West with a Calgary Stampeders loss or tie later Saturday against the B.C. Lions.

Dickenson said the game is important because it can give the Roughriders an important bye week during the playoffs.

“Everybody’s tired at this time of the year and everyone’s a little beat up,” Dickenson said. “I think if you asked every team in the West, I’m sure they’d all give their right arm for that bye — but it doesn’t guarantee anything more than you play the next week.

“We want to play our best game out there (Saturday). That has been the focus all week.”

While Fajardo might not be able to play, he’s confident Harker and Bennett can get the job done.

“We have a very talented team and if I’m unable to go (Saturday), that doesn’t mean we’re going to lose this game,” Fajardo said.