The Saskatchewan Roughriders kicked off the 2025 CFL season with a 31-26 win over the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday, but they paid a heavy price.
Saskatchewan had four starters leave the game due to injury in the win, including three in the first 17 minutes.
Receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker appeared to injure his left ankle, running back A.J. Ouellette suffered a suspected head injury and defensive back Rolan Milligan left the game with an apparent neck injury.
Offensive lineman Payton Collins, in his CFL debut, was injured in the third quarter when an Ottawa player rolled up the back of his right leg. None of the four injured Riders returned to the game.
All four are big blows to the Riders, but none more than Milligan and Ouellette. Milligan was the CFL's defensive MOP award winner last season, while Ouellette was expected to be the Riders' bell cow in his second season with the team.
Backup running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon stepped up in Ouellette's absence and finished the game with two touchdowns.
The Riders will head to Hamilton to take on the Tiger-Cats in Week 2.
— With files from the Canadian Press
