![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/indicator-big.gif\")
<\/p>\n\u201cVery strange. You get into a nice rhythm during training camp, and then it\u2019s like, \u2018Hey, great camp guys,\u2019 and you usually roll right into the regular season. It was like, \u2018See you next week,\u2019 and you\u2019re like, \u2018Wait, what?,\u2019\u201d quarterback Trevor Harris said.<\/p>\n
\t<\/p>\n
\u201cYou come out here and it\u2019s kind of just get the cobwebs out. We\u2019re fired up that it\u2019s finally game week.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the positive note, we only have two bye weeks the rest of the year so only two weeks without Rider games for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harris said he wasn\u2019t concerned with the long layoff for the team, whose last pre-season game was on May 23.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just going to get to work this week and go to work like we always do. During the bye week, it was business as usual \u2014 I came in to get some work in and watch some film,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n
Running back A.J. Ouellette was busy during the time off.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoved into a house. Out of the camper and just getting the family up here situated and get the opportunity to spend time with the guys,\u201d Ouellette said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know a lot of the guys went fishing for some team bonding and went out to eat a few times. Brotherhood stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n
The game against the B.C. Lions will see a few new faces take the field for the first time in a game that will mean something in the standings.<\/p>\n
One of the new players who will start the season with the starting offence will be Jaylen Johnson. The Duluth, Ga., athlete won a starting receiver spot out of training camp. \u00a0He signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and had three receptions for 53 yards in a pre-season game.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was out early in camp, and he had a really strong showing. He has some juice outside and has experience in the pro game,\u201d Mace said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not too much about the kid you don\u2019t like. Unfortunately, he ended up getting banged up a little bit in the second pre-season game but he nursed himself back to health and worked his tail off to get back out here.\u201d<\/p>\n
But while the focus is on getting a win on Week 1, Mace acknowledged there is some empty space still next to where the newest banner will go up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen (the space). We will see what that first (banner) looks like and try to win a game on the weekend,\u201d Mace said.<\/p>\n
Notes:\u00a0Right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick was back with the starting offence. He didn\u2019t participate a lot during the final week of training camp \u2026 Running back Quali Conley (24), Johnny Johnson III (88), punter Oscar Champan (91), defensive lineman Liam Hoskins (92) and linebacker Ryder Varga (33) have all changed their jersey numbers following camp.<\/p>\n
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