Despite only joining the club on Tuesday, newly signed receiver Shemar Bridges was immediately thrust into the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ starting offense at his first practice with the team Wednesday. “It’s a good little bit of learning,” he admitted to reporters. “But I’ve been around the block; a couple years in the CFL with Hamilton. I definitely think in my younger years it would have been more complicated, but I’m older now and I can plug in concepts and compare to what I’ve learned in the past.” Bridges joined the Riders after spending two full seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Between 2024 and 2025 in Hamilton, the Fort Valley State University product had 1,294 receiving yards on 117 catches and six touchdowns in 33 games. His rookie season, the Florida-born Bridges recorded 933 yards on 83 receptions and four touchdowns and was named the East Division’s 2024 most outstanding rookie. He began the 2026 campaign on the Ti-Cats practice roster but was released Aug. 19. “I was dealing with a little bit of a groin [injury] at the beginning of the season,” Bridges said. “But I’m good and healthy so I’m ready to roll and I’m excited.” “He played at a high level in Hamilton,” offensive coordinator Marc Mueller said about his new weapon. “It is difficult [to get acclimated]. On offense, there’s a lot of different things, lots of details; that’s pro football.” Emilus back to the six-game Saskatchewan was forced to add Bridges after Samuel Emilus was transferred back to the six-game injured list (IL) Tuesday. The fifth-year receiver out of Louisiana Tech was activated from the six-game injured list after missing three games with a foot injury ahead of last week’s game against the B.C. Lions. According to the Riders’ injury report, Emilus sustained a leg injury in Sunday’s loss to the Lions, after coming down hard on a jumping catch attempt in which he was upended by B.C. defensive back Darnell Sankey. Despite heading back to the IL, head coach Corey Mace does not expect his star receiver to be out of the lineup for long. “No, I don’t think it’s season-ending,” he said following Wednesday’s practice. “Just super unfortunate. I know how much this game and this team means to [Emilus]. Football can suck sometimes.” Also adding to Saskatchewan’s long injured player list is Johnny Johnson III. He was removed from Sunday’s game and entered concussion protocol – bringing his status for Saturday into question. The Riders’ five-receiver set Wednesday featured Bridges, KeeSean Johnson, D’Sean Mimbs, Daniel Wiebe and Dhel Duncan-Busby. “What that receiver room has done over the last two and a half years is show that anyone who gets their number called is prepared to go out there and play to the standard that’s been set,” Mueller said. “As long as I can come in there and put the time – which I have been doing – I’ll be fine,” added Bridges. “I’ve picked up on it fast; definitely still things to learn.” In-house disruptor The constant rotating door of receivers may have finally shown up in games. Saskatchewan has lost two-straight games for the first time this season, scoring just 37 points in the two losses. Quarterback Trevor Harris is 51/77 (66.2 per cent) passing for 563 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions over the losing streak. Throwing two-plus picks in back-to-back games, something Harris had not done since 2022. He was seen visibly frustrated Sunday after throwing his second pick of the game, yelling into his helmet walking back to the sideline. “Who’s in the lineup this week, who we’ve got, how can you go out and execute at the highest ability we can,” Harris said. “Excuses: nobody cares – you need to go out and produce.” “Everybody’s playing through some sort of injury; nobody cares, you’ve got to go out there and get it done,” he added. Mueller hopes all his players are ready for when called upon, not if. “You have to prepare every day as if you’re playing,” he said. “Because if you don’t, that’s when your number’s going to get called. We prepare everybody and those guys in that room prepare as if they’re going.” “If we do have a bunch of different guys in there, we should be able to count on them or else they wouldn’t be here,” Mueller added. Saskatchewan shake-up Saskatchewan also shook up the alignment on defense Wednesday. The defensive line was mostly unchanged, but the linebackers and secondary both saw new looks. Seyi Oladipo Jr., a defensive back, took reps at the weak-side linebacker position – the normal spot for Antoine Brooks Jr. Nelson Lokombo shifted to the free safety position over Jaxon Ford Wednesday – although the former University of Regina Ram was listed as a limited participant with an injury. In Lokombo’s normal cornerback spot, James Burgess Jr. took starting reps. “We’re just trying different things, not just the one side of the ball,” Mace explained. “We’ve got to find different combinations we think will help us moving forward. We’ll see; it could be a daily thing.” Patrick returns from retirement The Roughriders also announced Wednesday the signing of defensive lineman Aaron Patrick, who spent the 2025 Grey Cup winning season in Saskatchewan. Patrick dressed for 16 regular season games last year, registering seven special teams tackles. He also suited both playoff games, including the 2025 Grey Cup game. He announced his retirement over the offseason. “He brings versatility on the defensive line,” Mace said about the addition. “Obviously, he made his bones on special teams. Happy to have him back as well, so we’ll see what that look like – if it’s this week or next week. But it’s another player you get in the building as a bonus.” Patrick previously signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent time on the Jaguars’ practice squad late in the 2020 season and early in the 2021 campaign before being claimed by the Denver Broncos and signed to their active roster on Sept. 23, 2021. Patrick dressed for 12 games with the Broncos in 2021, making one start and recording eight tackles. He suited up for five games the following season, registering six tackles before suffering a knee injury. He was waived by the Broncos prior to the 2023 season. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Patrick played his collegiate football at Eastern Kentucky from 2015 to 2019. He recorded 27.5 career sacks, just 1.5 shy of the Colonels’ all-time record.
