Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look back at the week's news and decides who's hot... and who's not. This week's list ...
A.J. Ouellette is back for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The 30-year-old was the only running back listed on the team’s depth chart released on Saturday for the Rider’s Sunday clash with Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He has missed the past two contests with an ankle injury.
Read more:
- Carnduff’s Carter Beck makes baseball history, drafted 26th overall by Atlanta Braves
- Sask. para swimmer Shelby Newkirk smashes own national record at Canadian Trials
- ‘First crack at it’: Blades head coach Dan DaSilva relishing Team Canada opportunity
“It’s always great (to be practising),” Ouellette said. “(Mike) Rose asked me why I was so happy and smiling out here. I just get to play football. It’s the best.”
Ouellette suffered an ankle injury in the team’s Week 3 contest against the Calgary Stampeders. He had 18 carries for 84 yards in the game before he had to leave the game.
“You get that scare when you come in the next day from the game and they give you a scooter and a boot and you’re like, ‘It’s not that bad.’ Then you get the imaging and it comes back and you’re good so you brush off the brow and get back to rehab,” Ouellette said.
He admitted when the injury happened, he felt like he could have finished the game.
“I think that’s something as a football player and as every person on this team wants to do — we want to play the game and we will fight through pretty much anything to do it.”
Riders quarterback Trevor Harris is also glad to have Ouellette back in the lineup.
“A.J. is great. He is one of my all-time favourite teammates. He brings an attitude and tenacity. A certain body language and joy to the game,” Harris said.
“He’s the man. He’s one of my best friends and someone I will be close with to the end.”
The Riders’ offence will go up against a formidable Hamilton Tiger-Cats defence on Sunday at Mosaic Stadium. The Tiger-Cats rank first in a number of defensive categories, including points allowed (98) and opponent net offence (376 yards per game).
A big addition to that defence has been middle linebacker Wynton McManis. McManis joined the Ti-Cats after three seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, where he was a teammate of Ouellette’s from 2022-23.
“(He brings) confidence. He is the energy guy. I remember playing with him and he does — I’m going to call it stupid because he’s not my teammate anymore — but he does this little roll when it’s the defence’s turn to go onto the field and I tell him it’s stupid,” Ouellette said.
“I love the guy. He plays the way it’s supposed to be done.
“It’s the swag. He’s not a talker and that’s how you know he’s a true baller because people notice him without having to talk.”
The Riders only had two other changes to their roster this week from their last time out. Along with Ouellette, linebacker Jayden Dalke will make his return to the game day roster as well as wide receiver D’Sean Mimbs. Safety Nelson Lokombo (ankle) and running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon (head) were added to the one-game injured list.
Kickoff for the game is set for Sunday at 5 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 3 p.m.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ depth chart for their game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on June 12, 2026. (Saskatchewan Roughriders/Submitted)
Read more:
