The Saskatchewan Roughriders will take on their former quarterback, Cody Fajardo, Friday night when the Edmonton Elks roll into Mosaic Stadium. Edmonton kept their starting QB secret as long as they could, announcing the decision to start Fajardo with the release of their depth chart Thursday morning. Both Fajardo, and now back-up Tre Ford, were getting first team reps at Elks practice this week. “It doesn’t change anything,” Roughriders’ linebacker Jameer Thurman said Thursday after practice. “We prepared for both [quarterbacks]. We understood coming off a bye week, changes are made on different teams looking for a spark.” “We’ll be ready,” he added. While he has seen playing time this season with Edmonton, the start will be Fajardo’s first of 2025. “We have a little heavier emphasis on Cody now,” Riders’ head coach Corey Mace told reporters. “You have to be careful looking at who players have always been and look at them based on who they are currently.” “This is a system I think Cody will feel comfortable in,” he added. A Mosaic Return Fajardo, a former Rider, will make his first start against the Green and White since not being resigned by the club after the 2022 season. He spent three seasons with the Riders (2019, 2021, 2022) emerging as the starting pivot in 2019 when he led the CFL with 4,302 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions, helping the Riders to a 13-5 regular season record, losing just once at home. Fajardo then threw for 366 yards and an interception in the 2019 West Final in a losing effort to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Before departing Rider Nation in February 2023 Fajardo posted a heartfelt letter to Rider fans on social media. Fajardo signed with Montreal after departing Saskatchewan and went on to win the 2023 Grey Cup with the Alouettes. He was also named Grey Cup MVP in Montreal’s 28-24 win over Winnipeg. Current Rider QB Trevor Harris – who signed in Saskatchewan at the beginning of 2023 - says Fajardo was one of the first to reach out to him at the time. “He played here a long time and was a beloved player here, the fans loved him,” Harris said about the Elks pivot. “When he went to Montreal and I came here, we talked about playing one another and him coming back to Mosaic [Stadium].” “I never really thought it would be me here and him in Edmonton. But here we are,” he added. Harris hoped the fans give Fajardo the homecoming he deserves. “People get to boo [him] tomorrow on the field,” he joked. “But hopefully they can at least let him know how much they appreciate what he did for the city and organization as a tremendous quarterback during his time.” “I hope it’s not a sweet homecoming,” Harris added. Mace reminisced back to his playing days with Calgary, when then teammate – and also former Rider QB – Henry Burris made his return to Regina. “I was there for those,” he recalled. “It was pretty entertaining. It was like, ‘Dang Hank. What did you do?’ We knew as teammates it would be a heinous game to come in here an play games.” “People, bring your Christmas hats – be the Grinch. We want as much noise as possible,” the coach said. Splitting snaps Despite Fajardo being listed as the starter for Edmonton, Saskatchewan remains prepared to see Tre Ford under centre Friday. “There’s potential to see both,” Mace said. “You don’t want to go into it pushing all your eggs in one basket and get caught with your pants down come gameday. We did a good job preparing [our team] for both cats.” At Elks’ practice this week, both quarterbacks did take snaps with the first team offense. Both Ford and Fajardo have also been put into various game situations by head coach Mark Kilam at times this season. Saskatchewan takes on Edmonton Friday night at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. -With files from TSN
