The Riders could missing multiple critical pieces for Friday’s game in Montreal.

Both starting Defensive Tackles–Micah Johnson and Zack Evans–were absent Monday. And Evans will be gone a while.

“Micah’s day to day. We’re hopeful he can play,” says Head Coach Craig Dickenson. “Zack’s going to be put on (the) six-game (injured list). He’s got some issues with his hip. So we’re going to six game him, hopefully heal him up for the stretch run.”

When Evans left Thursday’s game he appeared to have an injury to his right arm or shoulder. But Dickenson reiterated that it is a hip injury.

Dickenson says they’ll dress Defensive Tackles Makana Henry and Charbel Dabire for Friday. And expect them to bring in another Defensive Tackle this week.

Trainers examine Shaq Evans after injuring his ankle at practice

Monday’s practice saw leading receiver Shaq Evans go down with a left ankle injury. He went for a jump ball against LJ McCray and Evans immediately grabbed for his ankle after falling to the ground.

Once he got back up, Evans told teammates ‘I’m good’.

Dickenson says it’s an unfortunate injury, and should have been avoided.

“That’s one of those situations where we probably didn’t need to both go for the football. We need to be communicating and taking care of each other on balls like that that are jump balls. Hopefully we’ll learn from that.”

“We just say ‘take care of each other’. And there’s nothing more that I say than that. They have to know what that means.”

On the same day as the acquisition of Receiver Kenny Stafford, the Riders released receiver KD Cannon. Dickenson says Cannon asked for his release from the practice roster.

“He wanted to go home. So we allowed that.”

Cannon had 11 receptions on 12 targets for 149 yards this season. He injured his groin in the Calgary game and saw his receiver spot taken over by Manny Arceneaux.

Notes:

FB Albert Awachie was back at practice Monday. He’s been on the six-game injured list for five games now.

RT Thad Coleman was sporting a brace on his left knee under the white knee sleeve he wears on both legs.

S Jacob Dearborn also had a brace on his left knee.