Saskatchewan’s short-yardage specialist ready to return for crucial CFL contest

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ short-yardage quarterback hopes for a long stay.

“I’m very thankful to be here,” Tommy Stevens said after Tuesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “I don’t want to be anywhere else in this league for as long as I’m still playing.

“This is a great place. I’m glad that I’ve been welcomed here with open arms. It has been fun — a really good time.

“I love the group. I love our guys. It has been the most fun that I’ve had since college. It has really been an awesome experience and we want to make sure we end it the right way.”

Saskatchewan, which boasted a league-best 12-6 regular-season record, is to return to action on Saturday against the B.C. Lions in the Western Final (5:30 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).

The high-stakes game — a qualifier for the Nov. 16 Grey Cup Game in Winnipeg — will also mark a return to the lineup for Stevens. He missed the Roughriders’ final four regular-season games with a knee injury.

“It has been a good month or so since I’ve played the game, so I’ve had some time to work on the body,” the 6-foot-4, 245-pounder said. “I feel better than I did before I got hurt, so things are good.”

Stevens was a force on special teams as a first-year Roughrider, gaining first-down yardage 33 of the 36 times he carried the football. Five of those carries produced a touchdown.

Over those 36 plays, a total of 41 yards was needed to move the chains. Stevens routinely delivered, gaining 107 yards — more than 2½ times the required distance.

“I think every moment that I’m on the field is a pressure-filled situation,” he said. “I guess my expectation isn’t going to change at all (for the playoffs).

“I’ll do whatever it takes to get the yard … two yards … three yards. Whatever it is, we’re going to do whatever it takes. Nothing’s going to change from my perspective.

“Pressure is a privilege. Given my role, I’m thankful to have that. I’ve got to continue to do what has gotten me to this point.

“I’m just excited — excited for our opportunity as an offence, as a unit and as a team. This is what we’ve been talking about since the year started.”

Stevens signed with Saskatchewan as a free agent on Feb. 11 after spending his first three CFL seasons with the Calgary Stampeders.

He rushed for 25 touchdowns over 54 regular-season games with Calgary. With a career-best 10 majors, he was tied for the league lead in 2024.

The downside, though, was that Calgary missed the playoffs for the first time in 20 years. The Stampeders suffered a first-round playoff loss to the B.C. Lions to conclude his first two CFL seasons.

“For guys like myself who have never been a part of the West Final, it’s going to be a little bit different, and maybe the expectations are a little bit higher,” Stevens said, “but ultimately, we’ve got to do what got us here.

“We’ve been treating every game with a 1-and-0 mindset and doing whatever we can that week to win the game.”

Stevens is poised to step in for Jack Coan, who handled the short-yardage duties late in the regular season.

In fact, Coan has scored the Roughriders’ last three touchdowns — his first three in the CFL.

“I thought Jack came in and did a really, really good job,” Stevens said of the second-year Saskatchewan signal-caller. “I thought he embraced the opportunity. He really helped us when we needed it.

“The expectation didn’t change just because I was out of the lineup. Jack stepped up and helped us a lot.

“I’m thankful to be back and I’m glad that I’m healthy enough to play again. I guess, if you watch (the injury) on tape, it could have been a lot worse.

“I’m just really happy to be a part of it. This is why we do it, right?”