Ever since Saskatchewan Roughriders’ starting running back AJ Ouellette went down with a knee injury in Week 8, Quali Conley has stepped into the starting role in the backfield. With Week 15’s Banjo Bowl fast approaching and coming off one of his best games of the season in the Labour Day Classic, Conley feels like his confidence is growing. “I feel like I’m trying to be more patient still. I feel like the running game has been good, but I also feel like I need to improve, be more patient in pressing the holes a little bit more,” he said. Riders Head Coach Corey Mace was noncommittal on Ouellete’s status for Saturday’s game. However, Mace gave kudos to Conley, who he says has been doing the little things that don’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet. “He’s had some pretty good games for us,” Mace said. “I don’t want to lean on stats for that. There’s a lot of things that we ask our backs to do within the offense to make us operate at a high level. And he’s done a really good job of those things. So, I thought last week it was another showing for him that was incredible as far as protection.” Ouellette is a question mark to play in the Banjo Bowl, but the Riders could decide to rest him one more game, with a bye week incoming after Saturday’s contest. While his status is up in the air, the ultra competitive RB is itching to get back to game action as soon as possible. “I was headbutting people last week, my own guys, obviously on the sidelines. Of course, anytime you go out there and hit someone else, it’s good,” Ouellette said. If it’s Conley getting another start, he will be playing in front of the loud and hostile Winnipeg crowd in the Banjo Bowl for the first time in his CFL career. “They’re going to be loud, especially on second down. So, it’s like, listen to the cadence and the silent count and just be poised, it’s football,” Conley said. On Saturday, the Riders will be looking to sweep the home rivalry series for the second year in a row. Last season, Saskatchewan won the Labour Day Classic 34-30 and the Banjo Bowl rematch 21-13, with 2025 marking the first sweep of the series for the Riders since 2018. Kickoff for Saturday’s game is at 2 p.m. CST.
