If Mathew Sexton fields punts and kickoffs for the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday against the host Ottawa REDBLACKS, he will be a returner from multiple perspectives.
The road trip would mark a return to the nation’s capital for Sexton, who had a rookie-camp stint with the REDBLACKS before signing with Saskatchewan on May 12.
“That would definitely be a full-circle moment,” Sexton said after the Roughriders practised at Mosaic Stadium on Monday.
Sexton could also be promoted from the practice roster to fill a vacancy in the receiving corps, depending on the availability — or possible lack thereof — of veteran pass-catchers who are dealing with injuries of as-yet-undetermined severity.
Samuel Emilus (ankle) and Kian Schaffer-Baker (oblique) were not on the practice field on Monday. Both were hurt on Friday against the Toronto Argonauts at Mosaic Stadium.
Dhel Duncan-Busby, who missed Friday’s contest with a shoulder injury, remains sidelined.
As well, return specialist James Letcher Jr. left Friday’s game after injuring an elbow early in the first quarter.
“We’re still looking at the extent and exactly how long with Letch, but (Sexton) has shown he can do it for us and he’s also an excellent receiver,” Head Coach Corey Mace said. “He had a good pre-season for us.
“If called upon, no doubt he can go out there and make it work.”
On short notice, too.
Sexton made his pre-season debut with the Roughriders only six days after signing with Saskatchewan.
He had a game-high five catches and a team-best 78 receiving yards against the host Calgary Stampeders on May 18, adding a 15-yard kickoff return and a 53-yard missed field goal return.
Five days later, Sexton caught four passes for 34 yards against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.
Additionally, he returned four punts for 31 yards and three kickoffs for 60 yards, battling for every inch against generally larger opponents.
“That’s why I train my body real hard in the off-season,” the 5-foot-10, 176-pounder said. “That’s what you have to prepare for.
“I’m getting a little older — 28, working on 29. I work extra hard in the off-season and I’m smart in the off-season just so I can come here and take hits like that consistently and be all right.”
Sexton has also experienced the rigours of the pro game from a business standpoint.
Since his collegiate days at Eastern Michigan, he has auditioned with four NFL teams (the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins) and spent time in the XFL, UFL and Spring League.
After all those stops, there is still a spring in his step.
“I love playing this game,” said Sexton, who hails from Clinton, Mich. “It has blessed me and my family with a lot of opportunities and a chance to travel and things like that.
“I just refuse to quit. I’ve still got something to prove. I’ve got a lot more to prove. That’s my biggest factor, for sure.”
The status of Emilus and Schaffer-Baker will be a huge factor as the Roughriders determine the active roster for Friday.
“For the most part, we got pretty good news on the injury standpoint, so we’ll see how the week progresses,” Mace said, adding: “Nobody’s super long-term. There are no season-endings, which is awesome.”
THE SEVENTH FIRST
Emilus was the first of seven Roughriders to catch his first CFL touchdown pass from Trevor Harris.
The seventh: Daniel Wiebe, who scored on a 17-yard reception on Friday against Toronto.
“Put him on the list,” Harris said with a smile. “Another first guy for me. I took his touchdown card.”
Emilus caught his first three CFL touchdown passes in the same game — on June 16, 2023 against the visiting Blue Bombers.
The following players were also introduced to the end zone via a pass from Harris:
• Ajou Ajou (June 23, 2024 versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats).
• KeeSean Johnson (Aug. 16, 2024 vs. Montreal Alouettes).
• Dohnte Meyers (Sept. 1, 2024 vs. Winnipeg).
• Thomas Bertrand-Hudon (June 5, 2025 vs. Ottawa).
• Joe Robustelli (July 12, 2025 vs. Calgary).
And now, Wiebe.
All seven of those landmark TD receptions have been registered at Mosaic Stadium.
Bertrand-Hudon previously had three rushing touchdowns to his credit. The first two were in the same road game (Sept. 29, 2023 at B.C. Lions).
Johnson, a third-year Roughrider, arrived in Saskatchewan with a pro football touchdown reception already to his credit.
Johnson caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from the Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray against the visiting San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 31, 2019.
EXTRA POINTS
• The Roughriders are atop the CFL in net offence (472.7 yards per game), average time of possession (31:44) and second-down conversions (62.7 per cent).
• The Roughriders have three of the league’s top seven receivers, yardage-wise — Schaffer-Baker (tied for second at 384), Johnson (fifth at 301) and Emilus (seventh at 246).
• Schaffer-Baker leads the CFL in second-down receptions (13). Johnson was last year’s league leader (39).
• The Roughriders’ Aubrey Miller Jr. leads the league in special teams tackles (six).
• Saskatchewan and Calgary are tied for first in the league in sacks (seven).
