For the first time since the 2019 Western Final, fans were in Mosaic Stadium to see the Riders.

Sure it was only Day 8 of training camp, and no score was kept, it still felt like a special day for the players.

“You could tell a lot of guys had some juice,” says QB Cody Fajardo. “Especially as you get through a week of training camp, there was a lot more juice in practice. It was a little bit more competitive than I think anyone expected. To complete a ball or someone makes a good play, to hear fans cheer again, it was special.”

Kicker Brett Lauther agrees. “It seems a little surreal, but great day today. It’s been full all camp but it makes it that much more fun when you get to go out there, see them in the crowd. It starts to make things seem a little more normal.”

The Riders had planned for the first open practice to be Sunday. It was moved up to Saturday to give the players Sunday off. They will return to the field Monday at 10:30am.

Injury Updates
– Defensive tackle Micah Johnson got a shot in his knee today, so he missed a third straight day. Dickenson says “it’s nothing different than past years”.
– Halfback Ed Gainey got a “vet day” with general soreness.
– Cornerback Nick Marshall missed a second straight day with a hip/groin injury.
– Running back William Powell did not participate, hip/groin soreness.
– Defensive end Keion Adams missed a second straight day with a knee bruise. He could return Monday.
– Slotback Jake Harty got the day off due to soreness.
– Offensive lineman Matt Riley strained an oblique muscle in his back. He will miss 2-3 days.
– Defensive end Jordan Reaves missed a second day (achilles). They hope to have him back on Monday.

New faces
Two players arrived in Regina today to begin the second seven-day part of their quarantine: Defensive tackle Sterling Shippy and receiver Carlos Henderson. Both players were with the Riders in 2019.