PRE-SEASON SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON YOUNG QBS
Murray McCormick’s musings from Day 12 of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ training camp at the University of Saskatchewan Griffith’s Stadium:
The Riders aren’t expected to ■ reveal their quarterback rotation until Friday for Saturday’s preseason game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium. Based on Thursday’s practice, fans should expect to see a lot of veteran Kevin Glenn — on the sideline in a baseball cap, holding a clipboard and helping coach the young quarterbacks. Bryan Bennett, Brandon Bridge and Marquise Williams are expected to see the most of game action. Vince Young (hamstring) won’t play and there wasn’t any update Thursday.
Veteran defensive back Ed ■ Gainey earned Murray’s Monster with the defensive play of the day. Gainey jumped high to knock down a long pass from Bennett to Desmond Reece during a skeleton drill. Gainey timed his jump perfectly to keep Reece from making the catch.
The Riders gave up a fifthround ■ selection in the 2018 CFL draft to select linebacker Brandyn Bartlett of Tusculum College in Thursday’s supplemental draft. Bartlett was eligible for the supplemental draft because he holds dual Canadian and American citizenship. He grew up in Vancouver, Wash., but his father was born in Canada. It’s the second consecutive year in which the Riders have dipped into the supplemental draft. The Riders forfeited a third-round pick in the 2017 draft to select Kevin Francis, who has been converted from receiver to safety to linebacker.
Regina Thunder punter/placekicker ■ Kris Calcutt answered the call Thursday. The Riders didn’t have anyone to handle the kicking duties because Tyler Crapigna and Quinn van Gylswyk were unavailable. Crapigna needed a rest after handling all of the duties for the previous two days with van Gylswyk on the sideline with an undisclosed injury. Chris Jones, Riders’ head coach and general manager, thought that Calcutt did a good job on short notice. Calcutt was a territorial junior invitee to the Riders’ 2016 training camp as a receiver.
Injuries continue to mount for ■ the Riders, with 15 players absent from Thursday’s practice. Jones said many of the players are dealing with soft-tissue injuries and may play on Saturday in some capacity. Jones added that linebacker Samuel Eguavoen, who suffered an undisclosed injury on the first day of training camp, won’t play. Eguavoen was looking to bounce back after missing 12 games with a knee injury in 2016.