CFL picks: Roughriders’ Hughes will let play do his talking against former teammates
Charleston Hughes doesn’t have an axe to grind with the Calgary Stampeders.
Hughes will face his former team for the first time since being dealt — twice — this off-season when the Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-2) host Calgary (5-0) before a Mosaic Field sellout Saturday night. Hughes spent 10 seasons with the Stampeders before being traded to the Hamilton TigerCats, who promptly flipped the veteran defensive lineman to the Riders.
“My thoughts are the same as when I go up against any other team,” Hughes said. “First is to play the best game I can play and (No. 2) is get the win.
“Nothing more. All I care about is winning games and playing the best I can every down.”
Hughes, 34, appeared in 147 regular-season and 15 playoff games with Calgary. The sixfoot-one, 246-pound lineman led the league in sacks in 2016 (16) and 2017 (11) and left Calgary tied with Will Johnson for the franchise lead in all-time sacks (99). Hughes hasn’t skipped a beat with Saskatchewan, having registered a CFL-best six sacks this season. But getting to Calgary starter Bo Levi Mitchell won’t come easily as Calgary has allowed just six sacks in five games.
Hughes has never been afraid to engage in a little on-field trash talk but said that won’t be the case Saturday night.
“I don’t even wear a mouthpiece when I play but I’m going to wear one this game,” Hughes said. “I’ve been going against Bo in practice for years so he knows my style of play and I know his. When it’s all said and done we’re very acquainted with each other, so all I can do is play my game.”
The contest begins an important stretch for both teams, who will play six straight games against West Division rivals.
Hughes won’t be the only one facing his former team. Running back Jerome Messam spent parts of three seasons with Calgary before being allowed to return to Saskatchewan this off-season as a free agent.
“You talk to them before the game but, honestly, once it gets really going, sometimes you don’t even notice the person in the helmet,” Stampeders linebacker Alex Singleton said. Pick: Calgary. Edmonton at Montreal, Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Vernon Adams Jr. starts for the Alouettes (1-4) but newcomer Johnny Manziel is expected to play after being acquired Sunday from Hamilton. Edmonton (3-2) comes off the bye week boasting the league’s top passer in Mike Reilly (1,648 yards, nine TDs) and receiver in D’haquille Williams (31 catches, 556 yards, three TDs). Pick: Edmonton.
Toronto at Winnipeg, Friday, 8:30 p.m.
The Bombers (3-3) look for the home-and-home sweep follow- ing last weekend’s 38-20 road win. Andrew Harris ran for a career-best 161 yards and scored two TDs. The bad news for Toronto (1-4) is 19 of its points came off turnovers and the Argos haven’t scored more than 20 points in a contest this season. Pick: Winnipeg.
Ottawa at Hamilton, Saturday, 4 p.m.
The Ticats (2-3) face a conference rival after opening with five straight games versus West Division teams. After nine straight 300-yard passing games, Jeremiah Masoli threw for just 184 in last week’s 31-20 home loss to Saskatchewan. Trevor Harris threw for 363 yards and a TD as Ottawa (3-2) rallied for a 29-25 victory over B.C. Pick: Hamilton. Last week: 3-1 Overall: 15-8