Rider QBs get chance to showcase skills against Winnipeg in preseason action

The Saskatchewan Roughriders' preseason game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers could clear up who will back up quarterback Trevor Harris.

Or it could muddy the waters.

The Riders will dress all four QBs in camp — Harris, Jake Maier, Jack Coan and Tommy Stevens — for Saturday's tilt against the Bombers.

"I think it's going to be a great year for the team," said Coan, who played college ball with Notre Dame and Wisconsin, and joined the Riders last year.

"I think this team has potential to win the Grey Cup. And for me personally, my main focus is really just getting better each and every day and after that, just trying to help the team as much as possible."

Maier is in his first year with Saskatchewan after coming over from the Calgary Stampeders in the offseason.

The fifth-year quarterback spent four years with the stamps, three of those years as the starting QB.

"I feel like it's a reset for me," Maier said.

"I'm just taking it one day at a time. I know that sounds cliche, but I really just try to make my life that simple at the moment. And when my number is called, I go in there and try to produce the way I can."

The fourth quarterback on the depth chart is Tommy Stevens, who spent the last three years with the Stampeders, primarily as the short-yardage QB.

Stevens rushed for 685 yards on 160 carries and scored 25 touchdowns over those three years.

Head coach Corey Mace said he'd like to see everyone that is dressed get some playing time.

While Harris will see the field, it won't be for many offensive series.

"Trevor has played a game or two in his life, so I'm not gonna say it's going to be extensive, but we definitely want to see what he looks like."

Harris joined the Riders in 2023. The 13-year CFL veteran has also played for Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton and Montreal. He won Grey Cups with Toronto (2012) and Ottawa (2016).

Harris said it's about time to see some game action.

"You know, there's no string on the football, [so] let it rip, have some fun, get it out of the huddle, feel the play clock and feel the rhythm of each play," he said.

"We're just trying to just go out there and execute the best we can [on Saturday]."

Mace echoed those sentiments, saying he's looking for effort and execution.

"A lot of the guys coming in, not necessarily just rookies, but guys coming in from different teams, just meeting the expectations of what we're looking for," Mace said. "That's the main thing, execution, communication and effort."

Coan spent the off-season working on his throwing mechanics.

"I tried to quicken my release a little bit," he said. "Then trying to become more athletic, bigger, stronger, faster, and then just expanding my knowledge of the playbook."

Maier said being able to spend a lot of time with a veteran like Harris will pay dividends for him and the other quarterbacks in camp.

"I think he's just a great example of what it means to be a professional quarterback," Maier said.

"When you see him up close to the person, you see the process that goes into it, rather than just watching him in a game."

Harris said there is a continuity that's carried over from last year.

"You can feel the hunger to continue striving for more and more."

Game time is 2 p.m. CST in Winnipeg.

The Riders will get Sunday off, then resume training camp in Regina.