June 29, 2017

Notebook: Henoc Muamba may miss the home-opener

The Saskatchewan Roughriders may have a new man in the middle Saturday.

Roughriders head coach-GM Chris Jones told the media after Thursday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium that starting middle linebacker Henoc Muamba may be forced to miss the CFL team’s home-opener against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with an undisclosed ailment.

Muamba left Wednesday’s practice before its conclusion, but was back on the field Thursday — but only for a bit. He departed early again and didn’t return.

Asked if Muamba would miss Saturday’s contest, Jones replied: “We’ll see.” But Jones also said that “it looks like (Muamba) may be out” for the inaugural game at Mosaic Stadium.

If Muamba can’t go, the Roughriders have a number of candidates to replace him. National Mike Dubuisson could play in the middle, or international Sam Eguavoen could come off the injured list and line up inside.

“We’ll see if that’s the way we go,” Jones said of deploying Eguavoen in the middle. “We’ve got a lot of different options. That’s the luxury we do have. We’ve got some guys who have been around who do know our system, so we’ll see who slots in.”

Jones also suggested that receiver Rob Bagg could return to the lineup for Saturday’s game, even though he spent much of Thursday’s practice shadowing other receivers. An ankle injury forced Bagg to miss Saskatchewan’s season-opening, 17-16 loss to the Montreal Alouettes on June 22.

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Before Chris Lyles arrived in Canada in early June, he had never heard the word “waggle.”

Less than a month later, it’s part of his vocabulary.

“I saw it when the CFL was on TV when I was in high school, but when I got here, it was still a surprise for me,” the Roughriders’ rookie defensive back said in reference to the pre-snap motion used by CFL receivers. “I wasn’t used to it, so I had to make a way.”

Lyles, a 22-year-old product of Jackson, Miss., joined the Roughriders after they had opened training camp. He had barely touched down when he was tasked with stopping touchdowns.

“It was unexpected, getting thrown in the fire, so I’m just adapting,” said the product of Mississippi College. “My head was spinning a lot — and I’m still going through it now.

“I’m working on my technique and adjusting to how the receivers come off the ball with the waggle. I’m still learning as I go, but I’m getting a lot better at it.”

Despite being a late addition to the roster, Lyles won a job in the Roughriders’ secondary. He started at halfback in Montreal — the first time he had played any position other than cornerback in a game.

“I didn’t really have time to prepare (for playing inside), so I just had to double my focus each and every practice,” said Lyles, who was beaten for a touchdown by Montreal slotback Ernest Jackson.

“The touchdown was a small, simple leverage error that could have been avoided. But all in all, I feel like I did a decent job for my first time at the position I’m at and for my first pro game.”

•••

Two Roughriders — slotback Naaman Roosevelt and offensive tackle Thaddeus Coleman — were lighter in the pocketbook Thursday.

The CFL announced Wednesday that the two players, along with eight others around the league, had been fined for their actions in recent games.

Coleman was fined for what was called a “dangerous block” on Montreal defensive end John Bowman, while Roosevelt was dinged for what was termed a “crackback block” on Als defensive back Dondre Wright.

“I was pretty surprised,” Roosevelt said of getting the notification that he was being fined. “They said it was a crackback block, but I didn’t think it was bad. I thought I got in front of him and got my head across.

“But it is what it is. I understand I can’t do stuff like that. I’ve got to stay up and make a clean block.”

Roosevelt said he emailed the league and defended himself by saying he thought he was in good position to make a legal block. The CFL disagreed.

“I’ll just take (the fine) — and I won’t do it again,” he said with a chuckle. “I need my money.”

•••

With Chad Owens sidelined with a foot injury and with Ricky Collins Jr., out with a shoulder injury, the Roughriders are looking to use Nic Demski as their primary punt returner against Winnipeg.

Newly signed Joseph Morgan also is a possibility — but so is wide receiver Duron Carter.

Carter, who has been shagging punts since training camp began, returned one punt for 17 yards against Montreal. He may get more chances Saturday.

“He’s a formidable athlete,” Jones said. “He has done it before, so if we ask him to do it, we’re not asking somebody to do something we don’t think that they can do.

“He’s a very capable returner and if he’s asked to go back there, we fully expect him to catch the ball and run with it.”