Trevor Harris a ‘game-time decision’ for Riders’ home opener

As fans enter Mosaic Stadium on Friday for the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ home opener, the Green and White might still be choosing its starting quarterback.

Trevor Harris has been listed as a game-time decision for the showdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m.

“I’m excited to get here tomorrow and see how it feels,” Harris said Thursday.

“I was told it was going to be a game-time decision. I do what I am told – I get here tomorrow and I have a list of four questions I am going to ask myself, and as long as the answer to those are right and they tell me I look all right, we are going to give it a go.

“You never know until you wake up tomorrow and see how it feels.”

But if it were left up to the 37-year-old quarterback, he said he’d definitely be suiting up for the game.

“If it’s up to me, I’m going to play,” Harris said. “I feel like I am good enough today. I guess we will see what it is tomorrow.”

Head coach Craig Dickenson said the team’s staff is hopeful Harris will feel better Friday morning.

“We felt is was probably the best way to designate him – as a game-time decision – because truly it will be,” Dickenson said. “Does he feel like he can play effectively, and move enough to protect himself?”

Harris suffered what the team is calling a hip injury on the final offensive play for the Riders in their CFL season opener, a 17-13 win over the Edmonton Elks on Sunday.

Harris threw for 179 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in the win over Edmonton.

Harris said he’s still not entirely sure what caused the injury.

“I can’t tell on the film if it was an elbow or from when I fell. I’ve broken ribs before, and I can tell you this has been the only thing that has been close to the pain that I’ve felt when I’ve broke ribs and basically had a bruised lung from it,” Harris said.

“When that happened, I was writhing in pain. This was close to that with how I felt.”

Other factors influencing the decision to play Harris include ensuring the injury doesn’t get worse, and his desire to play in front of Rider Nation for the first time as a member of the Green and White.

“It’s something people have asked me about. They are like, ‘Don’t be stupid, because it is the home opener and we know you want to go.’ To me, it’s about the maturity level of making sure I’m not putting myself in a position to hurt myself further, that I can protect myself and instead of this being a one- to two-week thing, make sure it’s not an eight- to 10-week thing,” Harris said.

“To me, it’s about being mature enough to make the decision there. I have played a long time – I think I’m close to being the elder statesman in the locker room in there.”

If Harris cannot play, Mason Fine is in line for the start.

Fine started two games last season, throwing for 364 yards and one touchdown.

Notes: Wide receiver Derel Walker (knee) has been placed on the six-game injured list. Dickenson said the Riders expect Walker to be out for six to eight weeks, and Tevin Jones will start in his place. Defensive back Nic Marshall (shoulder) is week to week, and Deontai Williams will start his first CFL game in his place.