‘A pretty big game’: Riders’ kicker Brett Lauther back for Argos showdown

Saskatchewan Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther knows how important this week’s game against the Toronto Argonauts could be.

If the Riders get a win at Mosaic Stadium on Friday, Saskatchewan would clinch first place in the CFL West Division and ensure the road to the Grey Cup in Winnipeg goes through Regina.

Read more:

“It’s the biggest advantage to come in first place. You’re a home win away from getting there,” said Lauther, who missed last week with a back injury. “I don’t even know if I would be going this week if it wasn’t that important. That’s the main thing — just try to go out and get the win this week and we will figure it out after that.

“We’re just concentrating on going 1-0 but this is a pretty big game for us.”

Lauther said he has been dealing with a bit of a back issue for a few weeks now.

“That’s football. Everyone is playing through something at this time of the year. It’s the joke in hockey — a long way from the heart,” Lauther said. “It wasn’t anything too specific. I don’t want to make the old age joke but like a pitcher, just using your leg so much in a season, it started to tighten up a month ago.

“Things like that usually get better a lot quicker and you can kind of bounce back but this has been a different one. Right now, just putting that behind me and focusing on Friday and go out and get a win.”

In his absence last week, kicker Campbell Fair made his CFL debut against the Ottawa Redblacks. While he didn’t attempt a field goal, he attempted two point-after convert kicks, missing both of them.

The Riders also signed American kicker Michael Hughes to the roster this week, adding another leg to the room.

Head coach Corey Mace explained the reasoning behind going with Lauther once again, despite the veteran only hitting on 68.9 per cent of his field goal attempts.

“We gave Campbell a shot last week and it, unfortunately for him, didn’t go as planned. We still have Brett and brought in (Hughes) and we let them all swing this week,” Mace said. “Ultimately, we went with the guy who we feel gives us the best chance and allows us to also put together a roster that puts us in the best position to win. I know the optics of it but Brett — if we can put him in good situations and maybe me not throwing him out there on 55 (yard) and 57 (yard field goals) and stuff like that.

“He is excellent in his kickoffs — amongst the top of the league, which helps our team as well. There was a lot of things that went into the decision. This is how we are rolling this week and each week we will let them swing and see how we pan through the rest of the season.”

Despite not practicing this week, Marcus Sayles is on the depth chart and starting. He will be backed up by Nafees Lyon, who signed with the team on Monday.

Kick returner Mario Alford is also back on the roster, along with wide receiver Joe Robustelli. Receiver Dohnte Meyers (ankle) and Shawn Bane Jr. have been taken off the depth chart.

Defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. (knee/foot) will miss this week. Sheldrick Redwine will make his first CFL start in his place.

Kickoff for the game against the Argos is set for 7 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 5 p.m.