Riders O-Line Banged Up

The Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive line has been like a revolving door this season thanks to injuries and it looks like that may continue this week against the Calgary Stampeders.

Ben Heenan and Patrick Neufeld have both missed time at practice this week and head coach Corey Chamblin says their status is still up in the air, "Well talk about it more on walk through day (Friday) and if they feel that they can go that's something that we'll look at, but the other guys have taken reps in their spots.

If both players can't go on Saturday, that would mean a completely new right side to the offensive line for the Green & White.  Chris Best has been practicing at right tackle after filling in for Dominic Picard at centre last week, while Johan Asiata would take Heenan's spot at right guard.

Chamblin says the injuries to Heenan and Neufeld aren't serious, but he wanted to give them time to rest, "Heenan is a young guy and he's played a lot of football and he has a couple of nicks and bruises, so does Neufeld," explained Chamblin after practice on Thursday.  "You've got to look at the long term, sometimes you can grind it out, but we have good back-up guys."

A big plus for the Riders would be having Picard back in at centre after he missed the game in BC with a lower-body injury.  He says he's feeling great after practicing everyday so far this week, "It's fun to be back with the guys.  It feels good and I'm going to try again (Friday) and we'll see what's going on.

Picard says the constant change along the offensive line this season hasn't affected them, "I think everybody knows what they've got to do.  We have such a good group and we've got such a good coach there, so everybody is on the same page and it's actually pretty good."

The Riders will have plenty of decisions to make over the next 48 hours, they will have their walk through on Friday morning before they host the Stampeders at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday afternoon.  Kick-off is at 1:00pm.