Roughriders to start rookie QB Dolegala against Argonauts on Sunday
Mason Fine #MasonFine
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Rookie quarterback Jake Dolegala is to start his first CFL game when the Riders play the visiting Argonauts on Sunday.
Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Jake Dolegala, shown here in a 2022 pre-season game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, will be the starter on Sunday against the visiting Toronto Argonauts. Photo by Heywood Yu /The Canadian Press Article content
Craig Dickenson had some fun before revealing the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the visiting Toronto Argonauts.
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“I could say that we’re not sure, but nobody would believe us,” the Riders’ head coach said with a smile after Friday’s closed practice at Mosaic Stadium.
Dickenson then confirmed that Jake Dolegala will be the starter on Sunday (5 p.m., TSN). The Riders had no other choice than to promote Dolegala from third string to starter due to injuries and a COVID-19 outbreak among the CFL team.
Starting quarterback Cody Fajardo hasn’t practised this week while dealing with a knee injury and COVID-19. Mason Fine, the Riders’ second-string quarterback, has been sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols.
“Hopefully we’ll get both of them out here (Saturday),” Dickenson said. “Then it will be Jake and whoever of those two is ready to roll.”
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The quarterback situation could get dicey if Fajardo or Fine can’t play because the Riders’ emergency quarterback isn’t expected to be available. Cornerback Nick Marshall has filled that role, but he’s under COVID-19 protocols and won’t be cleared for Sunday’s game. Marshall played quarterback at Auburn University.
“We’re hopeful we’ll get Mason or Cody to be our backup,” Dickenson said. “I’m quite confident that one of them will be.”
With Fajardo and Fine on the sideline, Dolegala was the lone quarterback available for the Riders’ two practices.
Dickenson said the 6-foot-7 Dolegala looked better during Friday’s closed practice compared to Thursday’s open session. Practices on Tuesday and Wednesday were cancelled because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
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“The coaches on offence did a good job of taking our packages and simplifying them a little bit so Jake felt more comfortable calling it,” Dickenson said. “Conversely, the offensive guys felt more comfortable running it.”
Sunday would be Dolegala’s first regular-season professional start. The 25-year-old Dolegala had NFL stints with the Cincinnati Bengals (2019), New England Patriots (2020-21), Green Bay Packers (2021) and Miami Dolphins (2021) before signing with the Riders on Feb. 14.
He appeared in two pre-season games with the Riders, completing a combined 15 of 21 passes for 147 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He has spent the regular season being a healthy scratch on game days.
“It’s a dream to start at a professional level,” Dolegala said Thursday. “I’m just looking forward to the opportunity. If I’m able to start, that would be pretty darn cool.”
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Dolegala was then asked on a scale of one to 10 how confident he was in his ability to perform Sunday.
“A 10,” he said. “Why not?”
The Riders have been dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak since returning from last Saturday’s Touchdown Atlantic game against the Argonauts.
The Riders have 11 players listed on Friday’s injury report with illnesses. Six of those players are out for Sunday’s game. Dickenson all but confirmed that those players were involved with COVID-19 protocols.
There was some good news when middle linebacker Darnell Sankey and defensive back Rolan Milligan practised Friday after clearing COVID-19 protocols. Dickenson didn’t sound optimistic about many other COVID-stricken players joining Sankey and Milligan for Sunday’s game.
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“We are what we are right now, but after this game we should be OK,” said Dickenson, whose Riders are to play the visiting B.C. Lions on July 29.
Sunday’s game was initially scheduled for Saturday. It was moved to Sunday because of the COVID-19 outbreak among the Riders.
The Riders have a 4-2 record heading into Sunday’s rematch. The Argonauts, who haven’t had any reported cases of COVID-19, have a 2-2 record. Toronto defeated the Riders 30-24 in the Touchdown Atlantic game.
“It would be great (if the Riders won),” Dickenson said. “I give props to Toronto because they are going to be ready to play. Our guys had a good day (Friday) and they know the expectation is to win.
“They are here for a reason. They are all pro football players and they get paid. The expectation is for them to perform. I think we will be OK.”
mmccormick@postmedia.com
twitter.com/murraylp
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