Armstead has head-start on Riders' two-game rushing record
09/24/2024 06:52 PM
What can Ryquell Armstead do for an encore?
Well, he could always establish a franchise record for rushing yards for a player after his first two games with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The production of just 24 yards on Saturday against the visiting Ottawa REDBLACKS will suffice, although Armstead is aiming much higher.
Justifiably so, after Friday.
He set the bar at a never-before-seen level during a dazzling debut with the Green and White, erupting for 207 yards — the fourth highest single-game total in team history — in last week's 37-29 CFL victory over the host Calgary Stampeders.
"I've got to go do it again," the former Temple Owls standout stated after Tuesday's practice at Mosaic Stadium. "I've got a 'what's next?' mentality. I have since college.
"I just want to make sure it isn't a fluke. So, for me, I'm just fighting this week to prove it wasn't a fluke."
Armstead's 207 yards have already exceeded the two-game totals of all but four running backs in Roughriders history — Tommy Reamon (230 in 1977), Anthony Allen (222, 2014), R.C. Gamble (221, 1970) and Joe McKnight (212, 2016).
Craig Ellis, with 205 yards in 1984, is the only other back with 200-plus after two games.
Two-game totals of selected Roughrider notables: Robert Mimbs (179 yards in 1995), Kory Sheets (169, 2012), Mike Strickland (149, 1978), William Powell (149, 2019), George Reed (87, 1963) and Wes Cates (63, 2008).
BIRTHDAY BOY
The Roughriders announced the signing of receiver Colton Hunchak on Tuesday — one day before his 28th birthday.
Hunchak was a Stampeder from 2019 to 2023. In 35 games with Calgary, he caught 65 passes for 606 yards.
Hunchak is the 4,504th documented Roughriders player, dating back to the team's inception as the Regina Rugby Club in 1910.
He is also the team's 47th Calgarian and the 14th Roughrider to have played at York University.
Of those 14, six have suited up for at least one game with Saskatchewan — defensive lineman Ricky Foley (36 games over the 2013 and 2014 seasons), defensive back Dennis Mavrin (35 games, 2003-04), fullback James Tuck (16 games, 2022), offensive lineman Jamal Campbell (12 games, 2022) and linebackers Matt Dean (four games, 2023) and George Psofimis (one game, 2000).
INJURY UPDATE
Receiver Ajou Ajou did not practise on Tuesday due to a knee injury.
"We're still waiting to get the total results," Head Coach Corey Mace said. "He had some imaging and stuff like that. Hopefully it's nothing that requires major surgery or anything like that."
Ajou was injured four minutes into Friday's game. In his place, Dhel Duncan-Busby — a fellow 2024 draftee — caught two passes for 34 yards, including a 27-yarder.
In Tuesday's official injury report, the DNP (Did Not Practise) designation also appeared beside the names of linebacker C.J. Reavis (knee) and defensive back Godfrey Onyeka (foot).
Defensive linemen Micah Johnson and Caleb Sanders were both limited in practice due to back injuries.
The following players were classified as full participants: Defensive lineman Anthony Lanier II (knee), offensive lineman Jacob Brammer (knee), running back Frankie Hickson (healthy scratch) and defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. (personal).
IT’S A GIRL!
Milligan Jr. rejoined the Roughriders after celebrating the birth of a daughter — Suni Rebecca Milligan, who arrived on Sept. 17.
With a proud papa at home with his family in Lake Wales, Fla., Amari Henderson started at defensive halfback in Calgary and contributed a key pass knockdown late in the game.
Although Milligan Jr. is the CFL's co-leader in interceptions and the league's top special-teams tackler, the team made it clear to him that family comes before football.
"We had communication, even during the bye week, when things were rolling there with him and his family, just making sure that everybody's healthy," Mace said.
"From the business-of-football side, we talked about 'what does that look like?' and 'what doesn't that look like?'
"In situations like that, I always want to make sure that guys are doing the best thing for their family and themselves.
"For us throughout the week, we've got guys taking reps at the position and we feel confident with the guys in the building.
"Obviously, we love Ro, but if you love Ro, you love his family. We're just happy that everybody is healthy and Suni is now a part of the world."
