Samuel Emilus is second in the CFL in average receiving yards per game.

So when the games-played total inevitably increases, watch out!

Over the four games he has played this season, the Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback has caught 20 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns.

At 90.3 yards per game, Emilus trails the B.C. Lions’ Keon Hatcher, who leads the loop in catches (79) and receiving yards (1,317). Average yards per game: 94.1.

“I never really focus on stats,” Emilus said after Thursday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “Obviously, I’m trying to win.

“I think guys in the league know what I can do. It’s just injuries. They’re part of the game.”

Emilus caught eight passes for 133 yards and one touchdown in a season-opening, 31-26 victory over the visiting Ottawa REDBLACKS on June 5.

The two-time 1,000-yard receiver added four catches for 37 yards on June 14, when the Roughriders downed the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats 28-23. During the proceedings, he played through a foot injury that forced him to miss the next three contests.

Emilus returned to the lineup on July 19, making three receptions for 78 yards as the Roughriders won 33-27 in B.C.

He followed up a week later at Mosaic Stadium with six catches for 113 yards and one touchdown in a 21-18 victory over the Edmonton Elks, only to suffer a knee injury that has forced him to miss the past six games.

After a full, setback-free week of practice, Emilus is listed as available for Saturday’s game in Edmonton. Suffice to say he is itching to return to active duty.

“I was itchy after the first time I got hurt,” he noted. “Obviously, you want to get back out there. That’s what I like to do. But you’ve got to make sure you’re healthy. You don’t want to get too excited to come back and then your season is done, so you’ve got to be smart.”

The injuries have been an aberration for Emilus, who missed only one game — as a healthy scratch while being rested for the 2024 playoffs — over the past two seasons.

He followed up on his 70-catch, 1,097-yard breakout season of 2023 by making 87 receptions for 1,064 yards and earning divisional All-CFL honours last year.

Depth in the receiving corps has allowed the Roughriders to withstand the injury-related absences of Emilus, Kian Schaffer-Baker (foot) and Shawn Bane Jr. (knee) for most of the season.

All three players were full participants in practice this week as the 10-3 Roughriders aspire to claim top spot.

“Obviously, being first in the West was one of our goals at the beginning of the season, but we haven’t done anything yet,” Emilus said. “The team knows we haven’t done anything yet.

“That’s not our ultimate goal. Our ultimate goal is the Grey Cup, of course, but being first is part of the process and we are happy with where we’re at right now.

“For that last five-game stretch, we’ve just got to keep working on getting better every day.”

The Roughriders have already clinched a playoff berth as Saturday’s game looms. Last year, the ticket to the post-season was punched when Saskatchewan won 28-24 in Edmonton on Oct. 5.

The biggest play: An 88-yard touchdown reception by Emilus, who caught a Trevor Harris bomb in stride to begin a series and was off to the races.

This time around, the Roughriders can nail down a home playoff game with a win at Commonwealth Stadium.

The 88-yard eruption moved Harris and Emilus into a tie for the 12th-longest touchdown drive in Roughriders history. (See list below.)

“It always feels good to play in Edmonton,” Emilus said, “especially when you have success over there.”

Along with Emilus and Bane Jr., the following players were listed on Thursday’s injury report as being available for the Edmonton game: Offensive lineman Philippe Gagnon (arm), cornerback Marcus Sayles (leg), quarterback Jack Coan (hand) and linebacker Nick Wiebe (knee).

Listed as questionable are Schaffer-Baker, running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon (leg) and returner Drae McCray (head).

Defensive backs Tevaughn Campbell (head), Jaxon Ford (knee) and Nelson Lokombo (ankle), offensive lineman Zack Fry (knee), defensive lineman Shane Ray (shoulder) and linebacker Melique Straker (leg) will not play on Saturday.

ROUGHRIDERS’ LONGEST ONE-PLAY TOUCHDOWN DRIVES

107 — Kent Austin to Jeff Fairholm vs. Winnipeg, Sept. 2, 1990

104 — Bob Ptacek to Ray Purdin at Hamilton, Oct. 15, 1962

102 — Ron Lancaster to Gord Barwell at B.C., Oct. 24, 1965

100 — Nealon Greene to Derick Armstrong vs. Calgary, July 5, 2003

98 — Alex Bravo (run) vs. B.C., Sept. 29, 1956

98 — Cody Fajardo to Kyran Moore vs. Toronto, July 1, 2019

96 — Craig Juntunen to Willie Wilder vs. Calgary, Sept. 16, 1979

94 — Ron Lancaster to Bobby Thompson vs. Toronto, Aug. 30, 1970

93 — Ray Purdin (run) vs. Montreal, Sept. 12, 1962

91 — Bob Pearce to Bobby Thompson vs. Edmonton, Aug. 16, 1972

89 — Mitchell Gale to Naaman Roosevelt vs. Ottawa, July 22, 2016

88 — Kevin Glenn to Duron Carter at Winnipeg, Sept. 9, 2017

88 — Trevor Harris to Samuel Emilus at Edmonton, Oct. 5, 2024