RIDING HIGH WITH RIDERS
Thigpen happy he decided against retirement
WINNIPEG About this time last year, Saskatchewan Roughriders tailback Marcus Thigpen was all but finished with football.
Thigpen was at his Detroit home, wondering if he should start working on another career that didn’t include football. Upon further contemplation, he decided he wasn’t ready to hang up his cleats.
“I didn’t want to leave the game because I thought I still had a lot left to give,” Thigpen said in advance of Saturday’s CFL game against the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“I couldn’t just sit there and let my talent go to waste. I was gifted with it for a reason and I wanted to use it.”
Thigpen has put those talents to good use with the Riders, despite some early challenges.
He signed with the 2017 Riders on Sept. 12 and three days later was placed on the active roster for a regular-season game against the host Hamilton Tiger-cats.
Thigpen suffered a shoulder injury returning a punt, which led to a six-game stint on the injured list.
He returned to the active roster on Nov. 4 for the Riders’ regularseason finale, in which he scored two touchdowns — one rushing and another on a reception — in a 28-13 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos.
Thigpen started in the playoffs and came through with 15 carries for 169 yards — including a 75-yard touchdown romp — in a 31-20 win over the Ottawa Redblacks in the East Division semifinal.
He wasn’t utilized to the same degree in the Riders’ 25-21 loss to the Toronto Argonauts in the East final.
He began the 2018 season on the sideline, serving a two-game suspension after testing positive for an anabolic steroid.
Since returning to the Riders lineup, he’s been part of a rotation at tailback that includes Tre Mason.
Mason has amassed 398 yards on 73 carries while Thigpen has 282 yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries.
Thigpen had five carries for 55 yards and two catches for 37 yards and a touchdown in the Riders’ 31-23 win over the Blue Bombers on Sunday.
The Riders are expected to continue with the rotation, an aspect of the game to which Thigpen has grown accustomed.
“The rest is definitely vital,” said the 32-year-old Thigpen. “At the same time, when you get on a roll, you want to keep going and you just want to bang, bang and bang.
“I understand what they ’re doing and I buy into whatever it is they want me to do. I’m a team player, and whatever it takes for us to win, then I’m all for it.”
The Riders have established a pattern with Mason handling the tailback duties on first down and Thigpen coming in on second down.
“(Mason) is more of an everydown type of back and he’s a guy who can pound it up in there,” said Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager.
“Thigpen is more of a returner/ running back. We’re trying to utilize everyone’s strength.”
Thigpen’s role will be expanded Saturday with returner Christion Jones having been placed on the six-game injured list with an undisclosed injury. Thigpen and rookie Kyran Moore will handle punt and kickoff returns.
Returning kicks isn’t something new for Thigpen. He has handled those duties in the CFL with the Riders and Hamilton and in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders.
“I miss those days,” Thigpen said. “Being able to be back there definitely makes me excited.”