The Saskatchewan Roughriders got two pieces of good news ahead of Saturday’s crucial tilt against the Montreal Alouettes: Davis Alexander will not be in the lineup for Montreal, and the Roughriders will have two key pieces back from injury.
Per the team’s official depth chart, the Alouettes (13-3) are planning to start Dustin Crum at quarterback for the tilt. With the top spot in the East Division locked up, regular starter and CFL passing yards leader Alexander is set to rest in a meaningless game for Montreal.
The Alouettes will also not have their top two receiving targets in the lineup for the matchup - Tyler Snead and Tyson Philpot.
Philpot’s 1,809 receiving yards are tops in the CFL entering Week 20, while Snead ranks second in the league with 1,474 yards receiving. The two are tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns with 13 apiece; five clear of any other receiver in the league this season.
The Roughriders (8-8) have listed receivers KeeSean Johnson and Sam Emilus as active for the game, after the pair each missed time with injuries. The return of those two, alongside Kian Schaffer-Baker, will mark the first time since July that the Roughriders have had their top three receiving options in the lineup together.
Johnson has 101 receptions for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns this season, his third in the CFL. The 28-year-old Emilus has 38 catches for 514 yards and five touchdowns in just seven games played, while Schaffer-Baker has 63 catches for 961 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games on the year.
The Roughriders were rolled by the Alouettes 44-24 in their matchup a week ago. That loss marked the fourth consecutive defeat for the reigning Grey Cup champions, and dropped them into a tie with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for third in the West Division.
Saskatchewan will clinch a playoff berth on Saturday with a win over the Alouettes and a Calgary Stampeders loss against the BC Lions in the late game.