Despite being decimated by injuries before and during the Labour Day Classic, the Saskatchewan Roughriders boasted the top-rated offensive line in Week 13 of the 2024 CFL season.
The offensive line made the Honour Roll, as chosen by Pro Football Focus, for its excellence in Sunday’s 35-33 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium.
PFF awarded the offensive line a unit grade of 68.9. The top three individual grades went to Logan Ferland (77.0), Trevor Reid (66.6) and Trevon Tate (65.3).
Ferland, Reid and Tate were the only Roughriders offensive linemen who started and finished the game. Peter Godber left the contest in the second quarter. Zack Fry was sidelined in the third frame.
The injury toll was such that the Roughriders deployed their sixth offensive lineman (Noah Zerr) and subsequently moved defensive tackle Micah Johnson to right guard for the final 1½ quarters.
Consider, too, that the Roughriders began the game with four offensive linemen on the six-game injury list — Philip Blake, Jacob Brammer, Jermarcus Hardrick and Ryan Sceviour.
Eleven offensive linemen (including six starting right tackles) have played in at least one game for the Roughriders this season.
“It’s crazy,” Ferland told reporters on Wednesday. “It’s unheard of, basically.
“Every week, it feels like we can’t lose another one, and then somebody goes down. It’s a matter of the next guy up being ready.”
Ferland, who ordinarily lines up at right guard, is expected to start at centre on Saturday in Winnipeg. Godber, the No. 1 centre for the first 12 games this season, is unlikely to play in the Labour Day Rematch.
Neither Godber (ankle) nor Fry (elbow) practised on Wednesday. The latest rash of injuries will likely result in the elevation of Zerr to a starting spot.
Although the depth along the offensive line continues to be tested, quarterback Trevor Harris was provided with sound protection against Winnipeg.
Harris threw for 368 yards and three touchdowns while helping the Roughriders amass 31 first downs — the team’s highest total since 2018.
In addition to recognizing the Roughriders’ offensive line on Wednesday, PFF acknowledged strong performances by Malik Carney and Justin Herdman-Reed.
Carney’s grade of 84.0 topped all defensive linemen. Herdman-Reed (90.3) paced all special-teams players.
A FINE LINE
The Roughriders have only a tie to show for their past four games despite being outscored by only six points (104-98) over that span.
That is the smallest margin in the franchise’s post-Second World War history, taking into account all four-game periods in which the Roughriders have not registered a victory.
The past four contests are part of a winless streak that has reached six games.
All three four-game portions that can be extracted from the 0-5-1 slump rank among the top seven when the smallest accumulated margins are considered.
Here is a list of the Roughriders’ 10 smallest four-game margins — a selection of data that includes a portion of a championship season (2013):
6 — 2024 (104-98; 0-3-1)
11 — 1948 (56-45; 0-4-0)
12 — 2015 (134-122; 0-4-0)
15 — 2024 (111-96; 0-3-1)
16 — 2000 (158-142; 0-3-1)
18 — 2015 (135-117; 0-4-0)
18 — 2024 (111-93; 0-3-1)
21 — 2013 (97-76; 0-4-0)
23 — 1979 (75-52; 0-4-0)
31 — 2012 (128-97; 0-4-0)
“It’s hard to stomach the results, but you can’t hide from reality,” Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace said.
“The reality is that we’ve still got games to play in the season. The reality is also that if we handle business, we put ourselves in a really good position to attain a lot of the things that we looked to attain as the season started.
“Everything that we want is still within reach and in our control.”
The Roughriders (5-6-1) are one point out of first place, behind two 6-6-0 teams — Winnipeg and the B.C. Lions.
Despite the recent frustrations, the Roughriders’ players have maintained a spirit of optimism.
“Honestly, you would think it was difficult, but the group we have and the guys in the locker room, we still want to harp on having fun and keeping the mood up,” Ferland said.
“When everything’s caving in around you and guys focus on the negative, that’s when it gets into trouble, and that’s what we have seen in the past.
“The priority is to keep things positive, keep things happy, and just continue to work hard. That’s what this group is doing.”
INJURY UPDATE
Godber, Fry, receiver Dohnte Meyers (shoulder) and linebacker Melique Straker (hip) did not practise on Wednesday.
The list of full participants included the Roughriders’ past two second-round draft picks — defensive back Jaxon Ford (2023) and linebacker Nick Wiebe (2024).
Ford (wrist) and Wiebe (knee) both resumed practising last week after being sidelined since the start of training camp.
“There’s a strong possibility they could get a run this week,” Mace noted.
Receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker (hip/hand), defensive back Amari Henderson (shoulder), fullback Bruno LaBelle (healthy scratch) and defensive back Jayden Dalke (healthy scratch) were also listed as full participants on Wednesday’s injury report.
