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A returning weapon will be at the disposal of a new pivot for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Kian Schaffer-Baker will make his season debut on Sunday against the B.C. Lions to give quarterback Jake Dolegala another receiver option in his first start of 2023. Kickoff for the game at Mosaic Stadium is set for 5 p.m.
“It’s truly a blessing just to be able to go out there with all my brothers and continue to chase our goal of just being 1-and-0 this week,” Schaffer-Baker said. “I’m looking forward to stepping back out there on the gridiron and just having fun.”
The 25-year-old slotback underwent off-season hip surgery, which forced him to miss the Riders’ first nine games of 2023.
Schaffer-Baker admits it has been hard sitting on the sidelines every week.
“I’m always someone that wants to push through things and get out there to help the team in any way,” Schaffer-Baker said. “You can either sit back there and just complain and sulk about things or you can rise to the occasion and just keep attacking it day by day until you get to a point like this and now you’re back out there.”
Schaffer-Baker will be playing slotback for the Riders in the game after being used primarily as a wide receiver his first two seasons in the CFL. He will replace Jake Wieneke, who has been added to the one-game injured list.
“I think I’m a threat being in that slot,” Schaffer-Baker said. “A big part of the Canadian game is getting that waggle. I’m excited to use that and just have fun.”
Dolegala is excited to have the Canadian slotback back in the lineup.
“It’s fantastic. It’s really nice having him back,” Dolegala said. “He’s so explosive and his routes are really spot on and he has a really good feel for what we want out of him this week. We’re excited to have him back.”
But head coach Craig Dickenson isn’t expecting fireworks right from the start with Schaffer-Baker, who last played in a game on Oct. 29.
“He’s a big addition to our team as we know, but he is going to be a little rusty; he hasn’t played for a long time,” Dickenson said. “We’re going to spell him and we are going to manage his reps but we feel like he’s a good enough player and he is 100 per cent healthy and cleared to play.
“We’re going to have him out there and hopefully he makes an impact.”
Notes: Quarterback Mason Fine (hamstring) was added to the six-game injured list … The Riders released wide receiver Jake Herslow. Saskatchewan released him during training camp after he suffered a knee injury. The team had brought him back on July 13.
