Emotionally and psychologically, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have bared their souls while dealing with the painful loss of veteran linebacker Jayden Dalke.<\/p>\n
Now they face extra challenges, specifically playing a CFL game against the first-place Edmonton Elks. How can they possibly focus on the Elks?<\/p>\n
\u201cJust be where your feet are,\u201d said Riders quarterback Trevor Harris. \u201cYou know, two things can be true at once. You can be focused on a goal that Dalke would want us to be focused on.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we can also mourn his loss.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edmonton visits Mosaic Stadium on Thursday (7 p.m.) sporting a 5-1 record against 4-1 Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n
Although the Elks were among the CFL teams to send condolences to the Roughriders in the aftermath of Dalke\u2019s passing, they won\u2019t be as compassionate for the first meeting of a home-and-home set between the West\u2019s top squads. The teams meet again Aug. 1 in Edmonton.<\/p>\n
Teammates, head coach Corey Mace, general manager Jeremy O\u2019Day and president Craig Reynolds have done media interviews about Dalke, a popular player who died Saturday night in a traffic accident.<\/p>\n
They all spoke about Dalke\u2019s toughness, commitment to his teammates and friendly personality. O\u2019Day said the team would show a video tribute during Thursday\u2019s game and add Dalke\u2019s initials to the players\u2019 helmets.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was the person that was the glue of our team,\u201d said linebacker Jameer Thurman, before breaking down for a moment during a media scrum following a practice earlier this week. \u201cHe was able to relate where everybody was emotionally and just have a conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe never allowed anyone to do anything by themselves. And it\u2019s a testament to him because even a lot of the new guys, they talked about, \u2018Man, he made me feel welcome right away.\u2019 He always was that type of person and he was always looking out for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
RCMP said Dalke, evidently driving home from a bye week spent at his family\u2019s home in northern Alberta, was heading northbound in the southbound lane of Highway 11 between Regina and Lumsden before crashing into another SUV driven by 22-year-old Bhishma\u00a0Rajyaguru.<\/p>\n