It appears the Saskatchewan Roughriders could be making a change at the kicking position this week.
As the Green and White prepare to visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday (5 p.m.) in Week 11, rookie Dawson Hodge handled all of the kicking duties on Wednesday at practice while Alex Hale spectated.
“We’ll see,” head coach Corey Mace said when asked if there’s going to be a change this week. “Today we put Dawson through the ringer like we did with the kickers in camp. He never had a chance to do that, so put him through the ringer today; a little pressure cooker situation.
“But like anything else, we’ll make a decision at the end of the week.”
On Wednesday during team drills, Hodge made a couple of field goals from the 50-yard line before missing a convert.
Moments later, he lined up for a field goal from near midfield, with the Roughriders trying everything they could do to make it tougher on him.
Special teams coordinator Kent Maugeri called a mock time out, the in-stadium music was turned up a few decibels, several Roughriders surrounded Hodge while making noise and even Mace was in front of the offensive line jumping up and down, hoping to distract him.
Hodge passed the test and made the kick.
“He looked pretty good,” said Mace.
With Hale, a 28-year-old Australian who took over as Saskatchewan’s kicker this season following Brett Lauther’s departure, ranking near second last in CFL in field goal percentage (14-of-19 for 73.7 per cent) to begin the season, the Roughriders signed Hodge, a 24-year-old from Vancouver who played U Sports football at Wilfrid Laurier, last week to add competition to the room.
Despite Hale making both of his field goals and all four converts in last weeks game against Ottawa — a 42-20 win — Hodge might be the one getting the opportunity this week.
“Nothing changes when you’re out there in a game versus practice versus on your own,” said Hodge. “It’s the same thought process, same kick. So just sticking to what I do best.”
While Hodge is a newcomer on Saskatchewan’s 2026 roster, he’s no stranger to the group as he attended camp last year with the team.
After playing for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder first attended training camp with Toronto Argonauts last year before being released.
He then joined the Roughriders for the end of camp, making his lone field goal attempt in the pre-season, a 31-yarder, before returning for his senior U Sports season.
Last year, he made 13 of his 17 field goal attempts (76.5) per cent) for the Golden Hawks, before attending camp with the Calgary Stampeders this season, only to be released.
The 24-year-old then returned home to B.C. and “stayed ready” as he waited for another CFL team to call.
“It’s great,” Hodge said of being back in Saskatchewan. “Being here before last year was awesome because I know some of the guys are already coming in, which has been pretty sweet.
“It’s great to be back here.”
While Hodge kept the CFL dream alive by continuing to kick back home, reality set in as he recently started looking for a job to pay the bills.
“I was basically full-time training, and I was waiting a couple months, and I was like, ‘OK, I better get a job,’” said Hodge, who has a career field goal percentage of 73.8 per cent (76 of 103) in 51 U Sports games. “As soon as I got the job, I didn’t even get to work the next day, and I got the call (from Saskatchewan), and I was ready to go.
“I was going to be working with kids at a kids camp back home,” he continued. “It’s too bad I’m not able to be out there, but I’m happy to be here for sure.
“There’s a lot of guys at home wishing they could have the opportunity, so it’s good to be out here for sure.”
And if he does in fact make his CFL regular season debut on Saturday in Hamilton, Hodge will be more than grateful he kept his patience over the last few months.
“It’d be special,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to do that. I’ve had a few pre-seasons now to get ready, so I feel like I’m ready to go, and we’ll see what happens.”
Injury report
For a second straight day, receiver/returned James Letcher Jr. (forearm) was a limited participant at practice along with defensive lineman Ali Saad (calf).
Offensive linemen Zack Fry (knee) and Daniel Johnson (illness) continued to sit out. The Roughriders will hold a closed practice on Thursday before releasing a depth chart on Friday.
Regular starters including A.J. Ouellette, Rolan Milligan Jr., Tevaughn Campbell, Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker are expected to remain on the six-game injured list.