REGINA -- It’s taken way longer than he would have liked, but Saskatchewan Roughriders' receiver Tommy Nield is set to make his first start of the Canadian Football League season.
With receiver Samuel Emilus officially listed as unavailable for the team's Week 9 game against the Montreal Alouettes, Nield will be the next man up and take over for Emilus. It’ll be a happy return to the starting lineup for the fifth-year veteran, who suffered an ankle injury in training camp and missed the first six games of the season before returning last week.
“It felt great,” Nield said about getting back on the field during Saskatchewan’s 21-18 win over the Edmonton Elks. “Starting the season off with an injury and missing the first six games is never ideal, and it felt like forever. But getting back out there on the field, getting to play football again, it's always exciting.”
The 26-year-old Guelph, ON native and McMaster University graduate didn’t see a lot of on-field action, playing in the fourth quarter as the Riders attempted to finish off the win. It was enough to get back into the rhythm of things, though, and a taste of what he hopes will be a lot more to come on Saturday. The key will be getting used to facing opponents again, but that’s something Nield -- who played four seasons in Toronto before joining the Riders -- expects won’t be a problem.
“I've played a lot of football, but after sitting for six weeks, it's like anything, getting back out there, getting used to that game speed,” he said. “Each snap you get a feel for the game and your timing. Game is different than practice, but getting out there to run some routes again, I felt good.”
Nield showed potential in his four seasons with Toronto, suiting up in 41 games while catching 63 passes for 776 yards and two touchdowns. He best season came in 2023 when he had 32 catches for 384 yards, including 212 yards after completion. When asked what he expects to see from Nield against the Alouettes, head coach Corey Mace pointed to making plays when his number is called.
“Whether it's going to attack the ball or his blocking responsibilities or whatever it may be that his job entails, go out there and do it,” Mace said. “[He’s a] confident kid. We're confident in him to be able to go out there and execute, so it comes down to him doing his job on every play like everybody else.”
To further aid his preparation, Nield has put in extra time with quarterback Trevor Harris during practice this week to prepare for his start. That way, when the shots are fired for real, the timing will be that much sharper and things will go that much smoother.
“Getting those extra reps with Trevor and the other quarterbacks, knowing how they like certain things run, it makes a difference for sure when you're out there on the field,” Nield explained. “You're playing faster and you can trust each other. You know where you're going to be, he knows where I'm going to be and I know where the ball is going to be.”
In addition to Nield making his return, the Riders will see a handful of other changes from the win over the Elks.
The offensive line carousel continies as American Payton Collins returns from a knee injury and is in at left tackle, while Canadian Zack Fry has recovered from the concussion he sustained in a motor vehicle accident and returns at left guard. Canadian Braydon Noll is the sixth man on the o-line, with Langenburg's Noah Zerr moving to the one-game injured list. American Darius Washington, who started at left tackle last week, moves to the practice roster.
Regina's own Mitch Picton returns from the one-game injured and backs up Nield at slot back as the other change on offence.
Defensive lineman Aaron Patrick comes in off the one-game injured and replaces Lake Korte-Moore, who moves to the six-game list with a knee injury.
American linebacker Aubrey Miller Jr. also moves to the six-game with a knee injury, while Canadian defensive back Kosi Onyeka makes his first appearance of the season after coming off the one-game.
The Rider Broadcast Network has all the action on Saturday, with Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk and Wes Cates on the pre-game show at 2 p.m. followed by Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder with the game call at 5 p.m.
