Roughriders’ defence preparing for Justin time - Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are preparing to face the Edmonton Elks at Mosaic Stadium, with a particular focus on Elks tailback Justin Rankin. Rankin has been a significant offensive threat during the 2026 season, demonstrating dynamic explosiveness in both rushing and receiving roles.
Micah Johnson, the Roughriders’ Defensive Line Coach, highlighted Rankin’s versatility, noting his ability to make plays whether receiving handoffs, catching screen passes, or releasing from the backfield. Johnson described Rankin as operating in space almost like a punt returner, becoming more dangerous with increased room.
Through six games this season, Rankin has accumulated 522 yards rushing, averaging 7.1 yards per carry, and has caught 32 passes for 343 yards. He is on pace for 1,566 rushing yards and 1,029 receiving yards, potentially making him the first CFL player to reach 1,000 yards in both categories in the same year.
Defensive Strategy and Player Returns
Johnson emphasized the importance of defensive players maintaining their assigned gaps to contain Rankin, stating that any deviation could be exploited. He noted Rankin’s skill in selling inside moves before bouncing to the edge, making him extremely dangerous on the perimeter.
The B.C. Lions have had some success in limiting Rankin this season. In two recent games against the Lions, Rankin rushed for only 28 yards on 14 carries, in contrast to his 494 yards on 60 carries in the Elks’ other four contests. Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace indicated that the team reviews all opponents’ strategies weekly to identify potential implementations.
The Roughriders will see the return of Rolan Milligan Jr. to their lineup for the game against the Elks. The 31-year-old will start at his usual position of boundary halfback after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 2. Milligan Jr. was a full participant in practice this week and was officially deemed questionable before being cleared to play.
Jonathan Edouard, who started at boundary halfback last week, has moved to a depth role. Jaxon Ford is set to start his fifth consecutive game at safety, as Nelson Lokombo remains on the one-game injured list due to an ankle injury.
Mathew Sexton has been placed on the six-game injured list with an ankle injury. Sexton had returned seven punts for 217 yards and one touchdown in two appearances for Saskatchewan. The team’s returner replacement is currently unclear, as James Letcher Jr. also remains on the six-game injured list.
Historical Context and Upcoming Matchup
The strongest previous bid for a 1,000-1,000 season in the CFL was made by Andrew Harris during his time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Harris, now the Roughriders’ Running Backs Coach, rushed for 1,035 yards and added 857 yards on receptions in 2017.
Other notable Roughriders running backs who approached the double 1,000 mark include Tim McCray, who in 1989 rushed for 1,285 yards and had 749 receiving yards. Ed Buchanan recorded 1,390 rushing yards and 681 receiving yards in 1964, while Mike Saunders had a 1,205-613 split for the team. The Roughriders’ exclusive 700-700 club includes Ken Carpenter (726 rushing, 784 receiving in 1956) and Ray Purdin (809 rushing, 771 receiving in 1962). Craig Ellis holds the Roughriders’ record for receiving yards by a running back with 977 yards on 102 catches in 1985.
The Roughriders (4-1) will host the Elks (5-1) on Thursday night. This game marks the first of three regular-season meetings between the two teams in 2026. Both teams currently hold the top two positions in the West Division standings.
The game will also be Saskatchewan’s first since the passing of team captain Jayden Dalke and Regina resident Bhishma Rajyaguru, both of whom will be honoured before kickoff. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EDT.
Source: riderville.com
