RIDERS BACK AT PRACTICE ON MONDAY

By Murray McCormick Mon, Aug 31 2009 COMMENTS(0) Rider Rumblings

They’re back.After a week off, the Saskatchewan Roughriders returned to the practice field Monday. It was a shorter practice than usual because the Riders have six days to prepare for Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday.

Here’s the news from Monday’s practice.

— There was new face at practice, offensive lineman Antonio Hall. He was with the Riders in 2006 for four games. Here’s a link to his bio with the Calgary Stampeders last year. Our Greg Harder will have more on Hall online later and in Tuesday’s Leader-Post.

— There is help, well old help, on the way for the Riders’ special teams. Riders head coach Ken Miller said the former Riders’ returner Jason Armstead will be at practice on Tuesday. Armstead was the Riders in 2006 and 2007 but was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats mid-way through the season for Chris Getzlaf and Corey Holmes. I’m not sure how much of an impact Armstead will have but he should help with the Riders’ dismal field position on kickoff and punt returns.

— Bobby Harris, Denatay Heard and Chris Jones, were all absent from practice Monday. They all had problems with their connections out of Denver.

— Fullback Neal Hughes was running with the scout team on Monday. He looked pretty good and fast. He’s on the nine-game injured list, so I doubt if he will return until after Labour Day.— Slotback Andy Fantuz was the man on Monday as we all tried to find out more about his contract status. As expected, he said he’s concentrating on rehabbing his hamstring and trying to avoid the distractions associated with working on a contract. He’s leaving those talks up to his agent and Riders’ general manager Eric Tillman. I’ll have more on this online later and in Tuesday’s Leader-Post.

— Offensive tackle Belton Johnson is ready to return from a torn pectoral muscle. Whether that will happen will be up the coaches but Miller doubted if they were willing to use an exception from the nine-game list in the first half of the season. A players’ salary while on the nine-game list doesn’t count in the salary cap unless they are activated. Then every game they missed while on the list counts. That would be a seven-game hit for the Riders with Johnson. Hall gives them some flexibility if Harris isn’t able to go. Harris has essentially been playing on one leg with an injured knee. The Riders want to assess Harris’s progress on Monday.

—Finally, Miller had a meeting slated for Monday afternoon with former Riders linebacker Reggie Hunt. The Riders need some depth there with injuries to Rey Williams and Kye Stewart. Tillman has said the decision on whether Hunt will be play is up to the coaches. Apparently Hunt would have to agree to a lesser role than starter. Miller promised us more news on that front Tuesday.