Going into Friday night’s match-up with the Ottawa RedBlacks, the Saskatchewan Roughriders had 13 players listed on their six-game injured list. Included in that group were their top two receivers Kian Schaffer-Baker and Samuel Emilus, along with running back A.J. Ouellette. The gapping holes on the offence needed to be filled by young players looking to prove themselves. That they did, as the Riders dominated the visiting RedBlacks 42-20, improving to 6-2 on the season. “I am extremely proud of these guys,” head coach Corey Mace told reporters after the win. “Tonight we just got to see a lot of those guys in the receiving corps that got their opportunity. But we knew these guys are great football players.” Three receivers – rookies Johnny Johnson III and Dylan Djete, along with former Regina Ram D’Sean Mimbs – saw elevated roles due to the injuries at receiver. Each of them posted career nights. Johnson III surpassed 100 receiving yards for the first time in his short career on seven catches. Mimbs had 84 yards on six catches – a career best. And in his first CFL start, Djete recorded four catches for 53 yards and his first CFL touchdown. “So proud of Mimbs, he’s been around a while with this regime,” said Mace. “Dylan to get up in there and get his first touchdown – and Johnny. We’ve seen this from these guys since training camp.” “I’m happy for them,” said KeeSean Johnson, who had a team-high 133 receiving yards on 11 catches Friday. “We have a deep room. We have a bunch of guys, high level players. So some younger guys get some opportunities, I told them, ‘Prove yourself and go out there and do what you do every day.’ “Good to see some young guys get some action and they made plays.” ‘Djet’ setting It has been an odd beginning to Dylan Djete’s career. He was drafted by the Roughriders in April after sustaining an injury at the CFL Draft Combine – one that kept him off the field for the entirety of training camp and much of the first part of the regular season. Finally recovered, he’s quickly been thrust into action. He made an early impact in his first CFL start Friday night. Quarterback Trevor Harris targeted the rookie on the very first play of Saskatchewan’s first possession. Djete didn’t flinch at the moment, bringing the football into his hands for a 16-yard reception and a first down. It was his first career catch in professional football. “Thanks to coach Mueller, I don’t know why he called [me] first,” the rookie wideout said after the game. “It was just like a breath of fresh air like, ‘I got my first one,’ and now we good. It just felt good, felt natural, so then I was like, ‘sure, I’m just playing football.” Early in the second half, the game was a tight affair. Ottawa had just scored to take the lead and Saskatchewan needed to respond. On the ensuing Riders’ possession, Harris led a seven-play, 69-yard drive into the redzone. Needing six points, Harris hit Djete on an “in” route and let the rookie do the rest – as he ran the ball into the endzone for his first CFL touchdown. “It just felt so good,” Djete said. “We just had a baby in [route]. I just made a play, had to break a tackle, and shoot.” “That’s what it’s all about,” said the veteran Harris, who reached 40,000 career passing yards Friday night. “To see him catch that in route, shed one and then get in the end zone was super awesome, man. Just seeing the smile on the young guys’ faces when they score that first touchdown is just so cool.” The touchdown pass to Djete was Harris’ 223rd in his career. After going through tribulations early in his professional career, the performance is extra meaningful for Djete. “I’ve been preparing myself and I’ve been going through a lot with this injury,” he said. “Mentally, I was there. And when my opportunity came, I just had to do what I had to do.” Harris recalled a conversation he had with the 2026 draft pick during training camp. “I said, ‘the only thing that would be tragic during this time is if you’re not paying attention every meeting, learning all the details. Because once you’re called upon, you’re going to you’re going to know if you did,” the quarterback shared. “And I think he answered with a resounding ‘yes’ and [I’m] very proud of them. Awesome stuff.”
