Roughriders’ reasons for releasing Carter remain unclear
By his own admission, Chris Jones released a “very good player” when the Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager and head coach gave Duron Carter his walking papers on Sunday.
But it’s unclear if Jones tried dealing Carter before cutting Saskatchewan’s top receiver last season prior to the Riders’ home game Sunday night versus the Calgary Stampeders, especially with four other teams — Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal and B.C. — now interested in Carter following his release.
That’s not to suggest Jones could have landed a first-round pick for the 6-foot-5, 205-pound Carter. After all, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers only got a conditional 2019 eighthround selection last month from Montreal for Adarius Bowman, a four-time 1,000-yard receiver.
However, Carter is six years Bowman’s junior and can play on both sides of the ball as well as return kicks.
Jones wouldn’t offer specific reasons for Carter’s departure.
Carter accumulated a team-leading 1,043 yards on 73 catches in 2017, his first with the Riders, and was tied with Naaman Roosevelt with eight receiving TDs.
Carter also started at cornerback Oct. 20, recording a 43-yard interception return TD in a 30-7 win over Calgary.
Carter started five games on defence this season after cornerback Nick Marshall (wrist) was injured. He had five catches for 59 yards and a TD in Saskatchewan’s last game — a 26-19 loss to Edmonton on Aug. 2 — and finished with eight receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown overall.
Carter is certainly no saint. There were reports that an altercation with a teammate led to his release, something Jones wouldn’t address directly.
In 2016, Carter was suspended for one game after bumping Ottawa coach Rick Campbell during a game. He and fellow receiver Kenny Stafford were later released following an incident during practice with Rakeem Cato.
BIGHILL’S BIG IMPACT
Linebacker Adam Bighill had seven tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in Winnipeg’s 29-23 win over Hamilton on Friday.
Bighill, in his first season with the Blue Bombers, has a CFL-best 49 defensive tackles and anchors a defence that has 21 sacks and 11 interceptions — both league highs.