The countdown is on to Shea Patterson’s first career CFL start. The pivot who entered the league with B.C. in 2021, will be under centre on Thursday night when the Saskatchewan Roughriders host the Toronto Argonauts.
Patterson, who split his college career between Ole Miss and Michigan, was a dual sport athlete in high school playing baseball in addition to football. Patterson was even selected by the Texas Rangers in the 29th round of the 2018 MLB draft. The Rangers allowed Patterson to continue with his football career in Michigan before committing to them full time.
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft Patterson signed a free-agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and after attending spring camp and their off-season workouts he was released prior to the start of main camp.
In June of 2021, Patterson was signed by the B.C. Lions to their practice roster just prior to the start of the regular season. He was continuing to practice with the team until September 10, 2021, at which time he was released.
Eleven days later, the Montreal Alouettes signed the pivot after injuries to Vernon Adams Jr. and Matthew Schiltz. He would go on to dress for five games as the Als short yardage Quarterback. At the end of the season Montreal released him.
That spring he would be drafted first overall by the USFL’s Michigan Panthers. Patterson, however, would be released by the Panthers but then signed by New Orleans before the season was done. After dressing for 7 USFL games in 2022 Patterson would sign a deal with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on February 13, 2023.
In spot CFL duty, Patterson has thrown the ball 16 times, completing 8 of them for 73 yards and he has run the 29 times for 61 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Patterson is excited for the opportunity to finally start a game in the CFL, albeit at the expense of starting Quarterback Trevor Harris, who was placed on the 6-game injured list back on Saturday. Patterson says that he isn’t preparing any different for the start, just getting more reps in practice leading up to camp. While, he doesn’t have nerves he admits that playing in front of passionate fans in Michigan and at Ole Miss have prepared him for what he is in store for on Thursday night.
