Saskatchewan Roughriders’ running back A.J. Ouellette is doubtful to play in Friday’s tilt against the Toronto Argonauts, according to the team’s injury report. Speaking to reporters after practice Wednesday, prior to the release of the report, head coach Corey Mace said Ouellette’s status was looking better. “Trending in the right direction, no doubt, but still trending I would say,” he said. “Just getting him on eye-level today. [It’s] nothing serious, obviously, but we get another day and then ultimately, just spit him out there on gameday to see what we can do pregame.” Ouellette missed practice for a second day in a row Wednesday after sustaining an ankle injury late in the third quarter of Saturday’s win in Calgary. Saskatchewan is no stranger to having the seven-year CFL veteran out of the lineup. Now in his third season in Green and White, Ouellette has missed significant time before. In 2024, he missed several weeks with a hip injury. Last season, he missed time due to a suspected concussion. Still, Ouellette ran for more than 1,200 yards – his first 1,000-yard-plus season as a Rider. Mace said the timing of this injury means the team can play it safer. “You kind of diagnose it off how serious the injury is,” he added. “But now having [him] out of the boot and all that other stuff, it’s trending the right way. Ultimately, it’s what can he do and what the doctors feel is necessary.” “And if he’s good to go; he’s good to go,” Mace said. Rookie runner The star tailback’s injury is just the latest for a Roughriders’ team which also is testing their depth on defense. Similar to other positions, the starter going down means a young player is getting an opportunity to make an impression. This time, Quali Conley appears next in line. “My teammates have helped me adjust; before this I was in Montreal, it was a different atmosphere,” he told reporters Wednesday. “Coming here, they’ve really embraced me.” Conley signed in Saskatchewan after being released from Montreal in early May. He arrived just one day ahead of the team’s first preseason game yet still had 13 carries for 43 yards in two games. The Arizona University product also spent time in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played two preseason games. “This is my first time in the CFL, I saw guys run to the line and I’m like, ‘Is that legal?” he recalled about his first practice in the league. “I’m still getting used to the cadence and moving before the snap; it is different down south.” As he prepares to see his first snaps in the league, he remains ready to be the next guy up. “As coach [Andrew] Harris teaches us, you never know when your number’s going to get called,” Conley said. “Just stay ready; whether you’re on scout team, doing indie’s, act like you’re the guy – that’s your mentality.” Mace said he has seen the rookie running back grow significantly since he arrived in Saskatchewan. “He came in late to camp, he digested it, worked his tail off to understand,” the coach said Tuesday. “If it gets down to that and he gets a shot, he’s been around long enough now to understand.” “But we’ll see with A.J.,” Mace added. Regardless, everyone on the depth chart is prepared in case they are needed. “We already go over a lot of stuff with the O-line,” running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon told CTV News Wednesday. “I doubled up on that a little bit, but the mental part of it is just staying focused and staying calm the entire time.” Added depth While Saskatchewan is hopeful Ouellette’s injury does not keep him out of the lineup long-term, the Riders did add some American depth at running back, announcing they signed Star Thomas Wednesday. Thomas joins the Roughriders after spending the 2025 season at the University of Tennessee. In 13 games with the Volunteers, he rushed for 596 yards and seven touchdowns – three of which were scored against East Tennessee State on Sept. 6. Over the course of the season, his average yards per carry (5.7) was fifth-best in the SEC. He also caught 11 passes for 116 yards and two majors, earning an invite to the annual Senior Bowl. The Louisiana product transferred to Tennessee after a standout 2024 season at Duke. In 12 games with the Blue Devils, he carried the ball 213 times for 871 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 20 passes for 153 yards and one TD. Thomas spent the previous two seasons at New Mexico State, rushing for 1,173 yards and nine touchdowns in 28 games with the Aggies. He added 34 catches for 351 yards and five touchdowns over two seasons at New Mexico State. He was an All-Conference USA Second-Team selection in 2023.
