Riders’ Trevor Harris out against Lions, team has ‘full confidence’ behind Jake Maier

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Jake Maier (9) looks downfield during the first half of pre-season CFL football action against Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Regina, on Friday, May 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris has been placed on the one-game injured list and will not dress for the team’s Week 4 match-up against the B.C. Lions. In his place, back-up Jake Maier will start for the Green and White Saturday.

Head coach Corey Mace told reporters Friday that Harris did not clear the league’s concussion protocol in time to play on the weekend.

“He was dealing with a multifaceted thing,” Mace said. “We were trying to decipher what was what. But once we did declare we put him into protocol, there’s certain steps you have to take and it didn’t matchup time wise.”

“Also, it’s let’s be smart,” Mace added.

As a result, Maier will be under centre for the Riders Saturday night at Mosaic Stadium.

“As a backup quarterback on any team, you never know when your number’s going to be called,” the pivot said. “It’s bittersweet because you want everybody ready to go, healthy and ready to play.”

Maier has made 45 previous CFL starts, all with the Calgary Stampeders.

“You learn pretty quickly you just pretend you’re the starter,” Maier joked. “And then you wake up on gameday and you’re not. You are just there just in case.”

The fifth-year quarterback says he’s prepared to lead the team Saturday, and ready for a fresh start with Saskatchewan.

“For the first three weeks, I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this organization, around coach Mace and the culture he’s created here,” Maier said. “You hear a lot about it from the outside. But when you’re in these walls, you really feel it.”

“Going into this week, there was a question mark there, so there’s heightened urgency to make sure the offence doesn’t skip a beat” he added.

Despite Harris’ inability to get cleared, Maier said he was a big part of the offence’s preparation and meetings.

Something Maier credited to his own readiness to take the reins.

“Trevor has an awesome routine,” Maier said about his starter. “There are little things he specifically likes to look for throughout the week. And to be a fly on the wall and say, ‘I can adopt this,’ is a nice growth moment for me personally.”

Mace reiterated the team’s confidence behind Maier.

“We have full confidence to execute with Jake being back there,” he said. “Having enough reps in this league, he’s faced a lot of teams, [been with] a lot of play callers and he’s pretty familiar with stuff.”

“You don’t really have to change too much when you have a veteran quarterback there,” Mace added.

“To feel [the adrenalin] in front of a home crowd I know is going to be excited, against a division rival, is going to be one of those out-of-body experiences that you always look forward to,” Maier said.

Lions’ Quarterback situation

Nathan Rourke’s availability remains a question mark for the B.C. Lions Saturday night.

The quarterback sustained a core injury in the team’s Week 2 loss to Winnipeg, which kept him on the sidelines last week.

Rourke was a limited participant at Lions practice all week, splitting first team reps with veteran Jeremiah Masoli through the first two sessions, before taking no reps with the starters in Thursday’s final practice.

“Today is no indication of what might happen in the next week,” Lions head coach Buck Pierce told TSN Thursday. “He’ll be a gametime decision for sure.”

“There is not a lot of reps on day three, mainly short yardage situation things,” he added

If Rourke can’t go, it will be 14-year CFL veteran Masoli under centre after stepping into the starting role last week. The 36-year-old struggled in BC’s 27-14 loss to Winnipeg, only managing eight offensive points, completing 25-of-44 passes for 281 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

“[I’m] excited to get back out there,” Masoli said. “[Rourke] is smart enough to listen to his body. Whatever he says goes with that stuff.”

Pierce said there is a possibility both quarterbacks get game action Saturday.

“You want all your quarterbacks to make sure they’re comfortable,” he said. “I want to make sure he’s ready to go if called upon.”

League rules stipulate the Lions have until one hour prior to kickoff to make a final decision on Rourke’s availability.

“There’s a reason coaches do it. It was one less night I had to hang with my kids,” Mace said with a smile. “But you have to be prepared for any situation. We have to be prepared for [Chase] Brice as well.”

“It’s just part of doing the due diligence as a coach and being able to have answers for the guys,” he added.

Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium Saturday.

- With files from TSN.