Rolan Milligan Jr. to miss ‘weeks’ due to injury sustained in Riders’ season opener

Rolan Milligan Jr. Saskatchewan Roughriders

It appears the Saskatchewan Roughriders will be without defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr., for at least the near future.

“It might be a couple a couple weeks for ‘Ol Ro,’ yeah,” head coach Corey Mace told reporters after Tuesday’s practice. “But, the guy is a superhero. So whatever the timeline is, that’s for the average Joe. I wouldn’t put it past [Milligan] to be back sooner than expected.”

Named the 2024 CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year, Milligan Jr. exited Saskatchewan’s season opener late in the second quarter after delivering a hit on Lions’ receiver Justin McInnis.

While Milligan Jr. made the play, he appeared to favour his right shoulder and remained on the turf for a few moments. He walked off the field on his own power.

After the defensive back was checked by team staff on the sidelines in a medical tent, he walked to the locker room - alone - just before halftime.

Milligan Jr. was seen on the sideline at the start of the second half out of his uniform and his right shoulder wrapped.

The defensive back was at practice Tuesday, but not in uniform. He was not in a sling.

Mace was thankful the injury was not worst-case scenario.

“We’re in a sport that’s, I don’t know – I don’t do math – probably say 100 per cent injury rate, throughout your career,” the coach said. “It’s sort of just kind of luck and, with this situation, that’s exactly what it is.”

“We’re lucky it’s not super long-term,” Mace added.

Also missing from practice Tuesday were offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick and DB Nelson Lokombo.

Hardrick did appear to suffer a knee injury Saturday against the Lions, but returned to the game.

According to the Riders’ injury report, Lokombo is dealing with an ankle ailment.

Near impossible task

Now Saskatchewan has the near-impossible task of replacing ‘Agent 0’ in its secondary.

“That’s the reason why we shuffle the deck during training camp,” Mace said. “You don’t want to get stuck in a situation where it’s, ‘Who are we going to put where?’”

For now, that replacement appears to be JuJu Hughes.

“It’s a blessing,” the rookie DB said after Tuesday’s practice. “This is what I worked for; what [Saskatchewan] brought me in for, to be prepared and to be ready for when my number’s called.”

“Now’s the time,” Hughes added.

The California-born Hughes signed with the Roughriders in March.

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As an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft, Hughes signed with the Los Angeles Rams where he went on to play 26 NFL regular season games, including 12 as a rookie with the Rams (2020-21) and seven with the Detroit Lions (2022).

Over three NFL seasons, he registered 26 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. He attended training camp with the Cardinals in 2023 before going on to spend time with the United Football League’s Birmingham Stallions.

Hughes began the 2026 season on Saskatchewan practice roster.

“I was ready to play Week 1 if that was the case,” the former Fresno State Bulldog said. “That’s kind of where [I] got set at the time, but you go into every day ready to play. They prepare us like we’re going to be playing that day – there’s no real change in preparation or anything like that.”

“The same thing. I’m next man up. I’m ready,” Hughes added.

Hughes already has the backing of his coaches to earn the opportunity to be Milligan’s replacement.

“He’s a ballplayer,” Mace said about the rookie. “He worked [at halfback] throughout training camp; he will hit some other places as well. He had a hellacious college career and had some good plays at the pro level.”

“We were happy as ever to finally get him to come to the Green and White,” he added.

Learning the game

Having spent much of his life playing 11-man football, there has been a transition to the Canadian-style of defense for Hughes.

“That one extra guy, the receivers running at you, the wider field; things like that,” he said about what he’s had to learn. “Once you get past those couple things, football is football.”

Former Regina Ram Jaxon Ford could also see an elevated role in Milligan’s absence.

The fourth-year defensive back says he’s starting to feel more like a veteran in the locker room, helping guys like Hughes in learning the game.

“Time flies when you’re having fun,” Ford joked. “But, no, it’s nice being in that role and kind of taking guys under your wing and showing them the ropes a little bit. A lot of the American guys aren’t used to the waggle, or the pre-snap motion and stuff.”

Ford was quick to compliment his fellow DB.

“He played really well throughout camp,” he said about Hughes. “He did his thing in that first preseason game; had a bunch of tackles, even on specials, too. I know he’s going to be ready.”

With the gaping hole left by Milligan’s absence, the rest of the secondary understands it has to step up.

“Next man up mentality,” said Ford. “We’re all pros, we all know. Even though some of us aren’t taking those reps in practice, we’re still mentally taking them and making sure we’re still locked in.”

“Our coaches do a great job preparing us,” added Hughes. “Everybody [is prepared] like you’re up to play this week. It’s not just the starters they’re focused on. Everybody gets prepared to play. I’m comfortable and I’m ready to go to play and do what I have to do.”

Saskatchewan has until Friday to name its final roster for Saturday’s game against Calgary.

Should Hughes be confirmed as a starter, it would be his first in the CFL.

The Riders take on the Stampeders in Calgary Saturday night. Kickoff is 5 p.m. Sask. time on TSN.