Wes Cates
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post files
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post files
REGINA — The jury is still out on whether running back Wes Cates will dress for the Saskatchewan Roughriders' game Saturday against the visiting Montreal Alouettes.
"That's something that Eric (Tillman, the Roughriders' general manager) and I will discuss later this afternoon," Saskatchewan head coach Ken Miller said after Tuesday's rain-soaked workout at Mosaic Stadium. "We haven't slammed the gavel on that just yet."
Cates has yet to play this CFL season as he recovered from off-season shoulder surgery. His place has been taken by Hugh Charles, who filled in admirably in Cates' absence.
But Cates is healthy and, on Tuesday, took most of the snaps with the Roughriders' first-team offence. Now the braintrust is faced with the decision of whether to put Cates on the roster in place of Charles or to keep both backs.
But Cates is healthy and, on Tuesday, took most of the snaps with the Roughriders' first-team offence. Now the braintrust is faced with the decision of whether to put Cates on the roster in place of Charles or to keep both backs.
"It would be really nice to have them both," Miller said. "That may be a bit greedy, but there may be a possibility of that."
"If we can find a way to do that, I think that's very smart," Cates added. "Obviously you want to have your two best backs out there and he's proven himself to be a step above the other competition right now.
"I think it would be in our good favour to have him on the field, but the numbers are hard sometimes as far as getting Canadians and Americans on the field. So we'll see how that goes."
Cates reiterated that it was frustrating to sit out, but the Roughriders won both of the regular-season games he missed. Now he's anxious to contribute — and equally eager to test his surgically repaired shoulder.
Cates reiterated that it was frustrating to sit out, but the Roughriders won both of the regular-season games he missed. Now he's anxious to contribute — and equally eager to test his surgically repaired shoulder.
"I'm looking forward to it because I think it's going to do well, but you never know until you know," he said. "We're going to get out there, see how it feels, bang around a little bit and hopefully I come out healthy."
If he scores a touchdown Saturday, will Cates emulate Charles and do a backflip?
"I'll see what I can do," he said with a laugh. "I'll try to work something out."
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"I'll see what I can do," he said with a laugh. "I'll try to work something out."
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The Roughriders sustained some injuries during Saturday's 46-36 victory over the home-town Toronto Argonauts, but Miller suggested the injured players were coming along.
Slotback Jason Clermont, who sustained a bruised back, practised with the first-team offence Tuesday. Receiver-kick returner Eric Morris suffered a leg injury, but he also participated in the workout. The biggest concern was defensive back Lance Frazier, who has a hip pointer.
Frazier didn't practise with the first-team defence, but Miller said he was sure Frazier would be back on the field Wednesday. In his absence Tuesday, Tad Kornegay shifted from linebacker to defensive back and rookie Kye Stewart took reps at linebacker.
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Slotback Jason Clermont, who sustained a bruised back, practised with the first-team offence Tuesday. Receiver-kick returner Eric Morris suffered a leg injury, but he also participated in the workout. The biggest concern was defensive back Lance Frazier, who has a hip pointer.
Frazier didn't practise with the first-team defence, but Miller said he was sure Frazier would be back on the field Wednesday. In his absence Tuesday, Tad Kornegay shifted from linebacker to defensive back and rookie Kye Stewart took reps at linebacker.
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The Roughriders have a 2-0 record and, in 2008, went 4-0 in July during Miller's first season at the helm.
Miller was asked if he takes some pride from the fact his team seems ready to go right out of training camp.
"I'm glad we got the wins that we have," he replied, "but they really don't mean a lot right now because we need to get focused on what we're doing for Montreal."
Miller was asked if he takes some pride from the fact his team seems ready to go right out of training camp.
"I'm glad we got the wins that we have," he replied, "but they really don't mean a lot right now because we need to get focused on what we're doing for Montreal."
ihamilton@leaderpost.canwest.com
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© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post
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