The Saskatchewan Roughriders still lean on Jermarcus (Yoshi) Hardrick, even while he leans on crutches.
That has been evident at practice sessions leading up to Friday’s CFL game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7:30 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
The veteran offensive tackle, who suffered a potentially season-ending quad injury on Saturday against the host B.C. Lions, has been conspicuous at Roughriders workouts this week, in the fine company of his wife (Samantha) and children (Jermarcus Jr., Santana and Lyla).
“It’s a tough loss for us, losing a player like Yosh, but to still be able to have him and his family constantly around the building, it brings comfort, because that’s a huge part of what Yoshi brings to our team,” Head Coach Corey Mace said on Thursday.
Hardrick’s influence was underlined when he broke down the team and addressed the players after Wednesday’s practice.
“He’s pivotal to this team, to the offence, with the energy that he brings,” quarterback Shea Patterson said.
“The message that he left us with was just about family and defending our home.
“It was, ‘Lean on our brothers and stay with each other the entire game. It’s a long season and we’re going to face some adversity but, as long as you stay together, that’s all that really matters.’ ”
Injury-related adversity is new to Hardrick, who has played in 122 of a possible 127 CFL regular-season games since 2016.
He was a mainstay with the Blue Bombers for seven seasons before signing with the Roughriders — with whom he had dressed for eight games in 2015 — as a high-priority free agent on Feb. 13.
In consummating that deal, the Roughriders added a premier player and a presence.
“WWYD — What Would Yosh Do?” Mace said with a smile. “That’s where we’re at. Just saying that, you already know what we’re talking about.
“He has been in contact with many of the guys over the phone. It was extremely important when he broke the team down. The guys were all ears, with complete focus on what he had to say.
“Just because he has been that guy for us doesn’t mean that these guys aren’t there for him when he’s going through a tough time.
“That’s the environment that I think we’ve built here. These men really care for each other and care for each other’s families.
“Yosh is laid-up, recovering, but we still love to see his kids at practice.
“We’re a family, man, and I love that.”
There is an outside chance that Hardrick — a CFL All-Star in 2021 and 2023 and last season’s West Division lineman of the year — could return near season’s end.
The same applies to veteran guard Philip Blake, who is also recovering from a quad injury. Blake was sidelined during a June 16 road game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“(Hardrick) is going to have surgery here pretty soon, but nothing has really changed (regarding the timeline),” Mace noted. “It’s the same thing with Philip and his surgery.
“There is an outsider’s shot that they could be ready at the end of the year if we do what we’re supposed to do as a team.”
If so, Hardrick could be a central figure in post-game celebrations such as that of July 4.
After Patterson marked his first CFL start by quarterbacking the Roughriders to a 30-23 victory over the visiting Toronto Argonauts, he was presented with a game ball.
Patterson was then lifted up by Hardrick in seemingly effortless, typically enthusiastic fashion.
“I thought he was going to drop me on my head,” recalled Patterson, who was boosted on to Hardrick’s right shoulder.
“It was a first for one guy to do that to me — for one guy to be able to pick me up like I was his son.”
