Riders see key players back at practice following injuries

A.J. Ouellette was back participating at practice on Wednesday after suffering an ankle injury in Week 2. Jacob Carr has more.

After suffering an ankle injury late in the Saskatchewan Roughriders Week 2 win against the Calgary Stampeders, Running Back A.J. Ouellette was back on the practice field on Wednesday for the Green and White.

The bruising back, known affectionately to Rider fans as Thor, missed the last two weeks due to the injury, but looked healthy and spry on the first day of Riders practice this week.

The veteran running back, who will turn 31 this month, said at this point in his career he trusts in himself and his head coach to make the right decision when it comes to managing injuries.

“I’ve been with Coach Mace for awhile now and he knows if something’s bugging, something’s probably bugging. And at this point, with the ballers that we got in the backfield, if I’m not feeling 100 per cent, I feel like if someone else can step in there better, then let them,” he said.

In Ouellette’s absence, it was first year Rider Quali Conley stepping into the starting running back role, rushing for 107 yards and one touchdown in his two starts.

Head coach Corey Mace said Conley filled in admirably but is happy to have Ouellette back in the fold.

• Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device

“Obviously, for Conley, moving the ball, but also picking up blitzes and doing all the nuances that we ask for the position. But A.J. is our workhorse. And I thought the extra time off was good for him and he looked awesome today. So, if everything trends that way, we hope to see him out there,” he said.

The nicks and bruises are part of the game for Ouellette, given his downhill, create contact style of playing running back.

While he doesn’t plan on changing up his game, Ouellette has been consulting with running backs coach and former teammate Andrew Harris on how to make little tweaks to lessen contact somewhat and elongate his career.

“He preaches on it every day, and we work on it during individual and anytime we’re in the meeting room,” Ouellete said.

“You could have been here, you could have got a little bit more green grass here, why are you going into contact like this? Stuff like that so there’s something to work on every day,” he said.

For Rider fans, there was more good news from Wednesday’s practice.

Rolan Milligan Jr. was in the mix on the field, while being listed as a limited participant.

Mace did not give a definitive answer on Milligan’s timetable to return to the starting lineup but said the team will see how he progresses throughout the week.

The team has two more full days of practice before Sunday’s home game against Hamilton.