Carter’s release has nothing to do with T.O., Jones says
REGINA — Chris Jones wasn’t prepared to divulge specific reasons as to why he released twotime all-star wide receiver Duron Carter, but working out National Football League Hall-of-Famer Terrell Owens wasn’t one of them.
The coach and GM of the Canadian Football Leagues’s Saskatchewan Roughriders said Sunday the team wanted to go in a different direction and that’s what prompted Carter’s release.
“It had nothing to do with it,” Jones said of the correlation between Owens and Carter. “That’s a discussion for another time. Let’s give this its due and then move on from here, OK?”
The Roughriders (3-4) cut Carter on Saturday night, after putting Owens through some drills on Aug. 5 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Owens, 44, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day prior.
Jones said the 27-year-old Carter is a dynamic individual who has a unique set of qualities. “We released a very good player who I think will end up, you know, he’s going to land on his feet.”
Edmontonbased agent Jason Staroszik, who is handling Owens’s CFL negotiations, declined comment when contacted Saturday.
Carter was the Roughriders’ top receiver in 2017 with a 1,043 yards and eight TDs, but he was shifted to cornerback in the second week of this season after Nick Marshall suffered a finger injury.
He was moved back to offence on Aug. 2 — a 26-19 loss to Edmonton — making three catches for 59 yards and one TD. In seven games this season, Carter had eight receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown.
The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native tweeted earlier Sunday that he started getting calls from teammates on Saturday asking what happened.
“I eventually text coach Jones ‘What’s the deal? Why my teammates asking if I’m on the team?,’” the tweet said. “Get a call from him saying ‘thanks for your service on both sides.’”
Jones, whose team is on a bye week, said he constantly evaluates his roster and made the decision around halftime of Saturday’s Montreal-Ottawa CFL matchup.
“It didn’t seem to surprise him when I had the conversation with him yesterday,” Jones said.
The Roughriders’ offence has struggled to gain momentum this season. They’re last in the CFL in passing yards with 1,407 while they’re tied with Montreal for last in passing TDs with five.
Quarterback Zach Collaros was hurt during Saskatchewan’s Week 2 game in Ottawa. Neither Brandon Bridge or David Watford were able to solidify the No. 1 job with Collaros out. Collaros made his return from the injured list against the Eskimos.
Jones is no stranger to dismissing big-name receivers from his roster, after cutting veterans Rob Bagg, Bakari Grant and Chad Owens following this spring’s training camp. Jones said that Caleb Holley would take Carter’s place in the lineup.
“We do have a very young roster at the receiver position with the exception of Naaman (Roosevelt),” Jones said. “We have some very capable guys that we believe in.”