Riders lose game to B.C., QB to injury
Severe ankle sprain will keep QB out of the lineup for undetermined time
Good news is relative when it comes to the 2016 Saskatchewan Roughriders.
It seems hard to believe that there can be a positive development associated with the Riders’ record dropping to 0-3 as a result of Saturday’s 40-27 loss to the B.C. Lions before 31,014 spectators at Mosaic Stadium.
Things could actually be worse for the Riders because an ankle injury suffered by Darian Durant in the second quarter of Saturday’s game is not as serious as the seasonending injuries the Riders’ franchise quarterback endured during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Durant’s left ankle was severely sprained after his leg was rolled on by Lions defensive tackle Mic’hael Brooks, who was penalized 15 yards for roughing the passer. Durant stayed in the game for one more play — a 31-yard touchdown strike to Rob Bagg — before being shut down for the remainder of the contest.
“It was rough and it was hard for me to get off the ground,’’ Durant said Saturday. “I found the will and the strength to make that throw. Once I got to the sideline, it was tough for me to walk and I didn’t want to put the team in a bad situation because of what happened.’’
Brooks was penalized three times for major penalties on Riders quarterbacks. He was flagged for grabbing Durant’s face mask in the first quarter and the roughing-the-passer infraction in the second quarter. In the same quarter, Brooks was assessed a roughing-the-passer penalty on Durant’s replacement, Mitchell Gale.
Durant was asked if Brooks’ second infraction was a dirty play because the 295-pound defensive tackle hit Durant below his left knee.
“I don’t want to speak on someone’s intentions because I don’t know that,’’ Durant said. “To me, it was borderline dirty. I don’t think that he had to go low and do what he did. I’m not going to call him a dirty player or say it was a dirty play. I do think it could have been handled in a different way.’’
Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, said that Durant’s injury was significant. It’s not known when Durant might return to the active roster.
The incident Saturday brought back memories of what happened to Durant in the second quarter of the Riders’ 2015 regular-season opener. Durant was sidelined for the remainder of the season after suffering a ruptured left Achilles tendon. He didn’t think what happened on Saturday was a replay of what happened in 2015.
“I knew that I hurt my ankle,’’ said Durant, who left the game at 4:11 of the second quarter with the Riders leading 10-7. “I knew that it wasn’t my Achilles because I know that feeling for sure. I was just hoping that it wasn’t a broken bone and that was my main concern. I was just glad that the X-rays came back negative and we can get aggressive on it and start the healing process.’’
Durant was replaced by Gale, who joined the Riders on July 2 along with offensive lineman Matt Sewell (since placed on the suspended list) in a trade that sent defensive end Shawn Lemon to the Toronto Argonauts. Gale spent time with the Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats over the past three seasons, but saw limited action in a backup role.
His stint in Saturday’s game — during which he completed 17 of 30 pass attempts for 247 yards and a touchdown — was the longest stretch ever of CFL regular-season action for the 26-year-old Gale. There were some highlights, like his nine-yard touchdown pass to Nic Demski in the second quarter.
Gale struggled in the second half as the Riders were outscored 30-4 by the Lions. Gale knows he must improve if he’s called on to start Friday when the Riders play host to the Ottawa Redblacks.
“You can’t assume anything, but I’m going to prepare as if I’m the guy, just like I have since I got here,’’ Gale said.
“There isn’t any magic trick of what I have to do to get ready. I just have to prepare and be the guy in case that happens.’’
Durant wasn’t the only Rider injured on Saturday. Guard Brendon LaBatte, receivers Shamawd Chambers and John Chiles, defensive back Justin Cox and running back Matt Walter all suffered undisclosed injuries.
It’s unlikely there will be injury updates until Tuesday when the Riders are to return to practice.