DURANT QUESTIONABLE
QB returns to lead way at practice
Testing the limits of his injured foot, the Riders’ top QB was back at practice Thursday. Will he start?
REGINA — Darian Durant’s uncertain status as the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hasn’t changed Brendon LaBatte’s responsibilities.
“We want to keep whatever quarterback who is back there clean,” the veteran left guard said after the Roughriders concluded Thursday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “If it’s (backup) Drew Willy there, we would block just the same. If they put (Durant) out there, we don’t think of him being injured. We just never want to see him being hit.
“That doesn’t add any extra pressure because we already have enough stuff that we’re trying to focus on.”
Durant’s health for Sunday’s game has been the focus since the Riders beat the host Toronto Argonauts 39-28 on July 11. The Riders improved their record to a CFL-best 3-0, but ended the game with Durant on the sidelines with a sprained right foot. Durant started the week in a walking boot, but he has progressed to where he was comfortably operating the first-team offence on Thursday.
“We still have another couple of days in front of us,” Durant said. “It was good to get some work and test it out. It has been healing pretty quickly. If I could assess anything, it’s feeling pretty good.”
LaBatte said the offensive line was feeling pretty good about having Durant at quarterback.
“When we got back, one of the first things we asked him was how he was,” LaBatte said. “He told me that he didn’t want to miss any part of the journey that we’re going on this year. That meant a lot to me on a personal level because Darian wants to be in there. He also knows that we’re on the verge of something special and that he doesn’t want to miss any of it.
“When your leader talks like that, it definitely makes you want to step up and do what you can.”
Durant said he could probably have played if the game was on Thursday, but didn’t know how effective he would be in terms of mobility.
The Riders are fortunate that they don’t have to make a decision on his status until game time. The long break between games was among the reasons Durant was optimistic that he could play on Sunday.
“I’m a competitor and there isn’t one game that I want to sit out,” he said, adding that his foot was pretty sore after practice. “It would take a lot to hold me back. It will be up to (head coach Corey Chamblin) to see how practice goes and if I can heal up. Then we’ll go from there.”
Chamblin is still taking a wait-and-see approach before committing to Durant starting on Sunday.
“Like with any injury, you always want to see how it is the next day and how it reacts to putting all the wear and tear on it,” Chamblin said. “We’ll be able to see where he is (Thursday afternoon) and then (Friday morning) we’ll definitely know if he’s going to practise or not. The good thing about it is we have an extra day to make some decisions.”
Durant isn’t pain-free. He experiences the most discomfort while rolling out of the pocket and running play action.
“Running straight forward and dropping straight back … it feels pretty good,” Durant said. “I’m lucky that it’s in a place where it doesn’t affect me getting up on my toes. You know when you run, you use the balls of your feet. Luckily it’s in a place where it doesn’t affect my running.”
Durant’s status does affect Willy, who returned to his regular role as backup on Thursday. Willy told reporters early this week that he appreciated any opportunity to get more repetitions.
Durant understands that Willy may be frustrated while waiting for a chance to start.
“Quarterback is one of those positions where only one guy can play,” Durant said. “I’m pretty sure that it’s frustrating for him dealing with the unknown. One day he plays and the next day you don’t know. I’ve been in that position before and I’m pretty sure that any quarterback who has been a backup or worked their way up has been in that situation.
“It’s all part of the experience. It allows you to mature and prepare for each game like you will be the starter.”