The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be without one of their top defenders once again this week.
After suffering a knee injury during Wednesday’s practice, halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. has been ruled out of Saturday’s Week 9 game (5 p.m.) in Edmonton against the 6-1 Elks, who defeated the 4-2 Roughriders 36-34 last Thursday in the first half of the home-and-home series.
Milligan, the CFL’s top defensive player in 2024, made his return to the lineup last week against Edmonton after a four-game absence following a shoulder injury in Saskatchewan’s regular-season opener.
While receiver Samuel Emilus, who logged a full practice Thursday after missing the first two workouts of the week, is questionable with a foot injury, running back A.J. Ouellette (knee) has been ruled out of Saturday’s game in Edmonton after leaving last week’s game with an injury while left guard Zack Fry (knee) has also been ruled out.
With Ouellette out, rookie Quali Conley will play his third game of the season. In two games, Conley has racked up 107 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
Jonathan Edouard is expected to start at halfback for Milligan while rookie Daniel Wiebe would start for Emilus if he is ruled out when the Roughriders release their depth chart on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, linebacker Ryder Varga is expected to make his season debut on special teams after starting the season on the six-game injured list while Daniel Johnson is expected to get the start at left guard in Fry’s absence.
“It’s always next man up,” said Johnson. “Having a brother down kind of sucks but the aim is to win every week and the coaches are counting on you.
“I’m excited for the opportunity. Excited for the challenge. Excited to play them again.”
Saturday’s game is the second game between Edmonton and Saskatchewan this season as the two teams will also meet in the final week of the regular season on Oct. 24.