One of the Saskatchewan Roughriders top additions during the off-season could make his debut with the green and white when they head to Calgary on Saturday.

Offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins returned to practice after missing the past few weeks dealing with a personal issue. Hawkins missed both of Saskatchewan’s preseason games and the opening two games of the regular season.

He was happy to be back with the rest of his teammates on Tuesday.

“Me being gone for so long, it’s a brotherhood man, you missed each other, I’m just happy to be back.”

In training camp, Hawkins received most of the snaps at left tackle as it appeared that the former fourth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers was going to begin the season as the team’s starter before his absence.

During his time away from the team, the Baldwin, Louisiana product kept an eye on his team from a distance.

“The energy was there, just a few things didn’t go there way, momentum changed but other than that man, they did great.”

The offensive tackle had plenty of nerves watching his team while he was away.

“There’s a little anxiety in you, wish you could be with them, encourage them stuff like that but they held it down.”

Now the 6’6 310 lb. left tackle will look to his teammates for support.

“I’m still open ears, I’m trying to learn everything that I can.”

Hawkins might not be the only change to the offensive line on Saturday. Colin Kelly was activated from the suspension list earlier this week after he completed serving his two-game suspension from the 2022 season when he was a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

On the first day of practice this week, Hawkins lined up at left tackle practice with Kelly taking the snaps at right tackle.

Brandon Council and Eric Lofton were the starters as the offensive tackles for Saskatchewan in the opening two games.

Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson says the team will make their choices at the tackle spots at the end and noted that Council and Lofton have made the decision difficult.

“Any time you have tough decisions it means you have a good team.”

It has been a long wait for the 29-year-old to return to the gridiron. Hawkins suited up for the Steelers in 2020 during his second stint with the team. After spending time with the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints, the offensive tackle was out of football last year.

This weekend, the left tackle is excited to possibly suit up for his game with Saskatchewan on Saturday.

“I’m looking forward to those chills, those jitterbugs man, the hair on the back of your neck raises up man, I can’t wait for it.”

Although Hawkins has yet to wear the green and white uniform, he and his teammates have confidence in the team’s positive trajectory.

“Trevor(Harris) and all the players here just say that there’s something special here.”

Practice Notebook 

• The Roughriders had a lengthy list of players on Tuesday’s injury report. Missing in action at practice for the Roughriders, safety Jayden Dalke, defensive back Rolan Milligan, defensive linemen Anthony Lanier II, Demarcus Christmas, Lake Korte-Moore, Nic Dheilly, wide receiver Juwan Brescacin and fullback Albert Awachie.
• On the positive side, linebacker Derrick Moncrief and defensive back Nic Marshall participated at practice and could return to the lineup on Saturday. Moncrief has missed both games this season as he recovers from shoulder surgery and Marshall was out last week with a shoulder injury.
• Rodney Smith returned to the Roughriders roster after spending time with the team during the preseason. Dickenson said the running back impressed the team during training camp and was one of the team’s final cuts during the final roster cutdown.