RIDERS RESIGN PICTON
Receiver hopes to become starter
Mitchell Picton hopes the third time is the charm when it comes to landing a starting position with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The 23-year-old receiver from Regina had stints on the CFL team’s practice roster in 2017 and 2018. On Tuesday, the Riders announced the re-signing of Picton and three other nationals.
The former University of Regina Rams star is looking forward to an opportunity to progress beyond the practice roster in 2019.
“My plan going into training camp is to win a starting job,” Picton said Tuesday.
“The past two years I haven’t been as healthy as I would have liked to be. Really, I haven’t been the player I would like to be because of the things that have been going on with injuries and stuff like that.
“I’m hoping to come into camp as the kind of player they haven’t seen before and push for a starting job. It’s the goal every year — and I really feel that it’s crunch time for me and time to make some moves and get on the field.”
The Riders selected Picton in the fifth round (37th overall) of the 2017 CFL draft. He signed with the Green and White and attended training camp before returning to the U of R for his final season of Canada West eligibility.
The six-foot-two, 200-pounder had 53 catches for 761 yards with eight touchdowns in eight regular-season games in 2017. The previous season, he had 58 catches for 834 yards and 11 TDS.
The Riders first added him to the practice roster on Nov. 15, 2017, and flew him to Ottawa for the team’s preparations for East Division final against the Toronto Argonauts.
Picton didn’t play in the Riders’ 25-21 loss to the Argonauts, but the spent his time with the team learning what’s required to prepare for a playoff game.
He rejoined the Riders in 2018, once again attending training camp — only be released. He was re-signed to the practice roster June 12, only to be released Oct. 23.
Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, told reporters in October that Picton was nursing a minor injury and there was a possibility that he would be invited back.
Picton’s perseverance was rewarded Tuesday when the Riders announced that he was returning.
“I really feel I like I belong in (the CFL) and that I can make plays here,” said Picton, who is signed through the 2020 season.
“The Riders drafted me and they have treated me very well. I’ve had injuries the past two years, but they have been right by my side, helping me to get healthy and to get back on the field. I still feel I have a lot of ball left to play and I can really contribute in this league.”
Picton had mixed feelings about being on the practice roster in 2017 and 2018.
“You’re playing ball and you’re around the guys all of the time and you’re still taking a ton of reps,” he said. “Still, it’s tough to stay motivated every week because you don’t have the game, whenever that may be.”
There may be a better opportunity for Picton to crack the starting roster considering the number of pending free agents among Saskatchewan’s receivers.
Picton and Jake Harty are the only national receivers under contract for 2019. Harty missed all of the 2018 season after suffering a knee injury during training camp.
Veterans Rob Bagg, Devon Bailey, Patrick Lavoie and Brian Jones all can file for free agency on Feb. 12.
Picton realizes that things can change during the off-season, but he’s already looking forward to training camp.
“I feel like my body is going to be in great shape in May when it comes time to hit the field,” he said. “I wish it was May already because I can’t wait to get out there.”
The Riders also announced the signings of offensive lineman Emmanuel Adusei and defensive linemen Mathieu Breton and Tresor Mafuta.
Like Picton, the other three players are Riders draftees — Adusei in 2017 (seventh round, 57th overall), and Breton (fifth, 36th) and Mafuta (sixth, 45th) in 2018.
I’m hoping to come into camp as the kind of player they haven’t seen before and push for a starting job