Roughriders hope to snap out of funk vs. last-place Redblacks

The Saskatchewan Roughriders own the best record in the CFL but are currently in a mini-slump.

The Roughriders (10-4) attempt to halt a two-game slide when they visit the struggling Ottawa Redblacks on Friday night.

Ottawa (4-10) has lost four of its last five games and will be eliminated from playoff contention with a setback.

Saskatchewan previously clinched a playoff spot but would like to regain its earlier form.

Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette is doing his part with a career-best 1,057 rushing yards, second most in the CFL. It also marks Ouellette's second career 1,000-yard season.

Ouellette, who is in his second season with Saskatchewan, is more impressed with his league-high 204 rushing attempts.

"You get told by every person out there that running back is the worst position to play," said Ouellette, who also topped 1,000 yards in 2023 with the Toronto Argonauts. "Nobody ever wants to play that because of all the hits and stuff that we take.

"To be able to stay healthy this long into the season, it's a tribute to the training staff and all that."

Saskatchewan coach Corey Mace said the offensive line has done yeoman duty while paving the way for Ouellette, who rushed for 115 yards and a score in last week's 27-25 road loss against the Edmonton Elks.

"They're blocking their tails off for him," Mace said. "He has been doing a great job. I'm sure he's happy he could cross the 1,000-yard mark, but he just wants to keep winning."

Ottawa, which is coming off a bye, is looking for another big game from quarterback Dru Brown.

Brown passed for 406 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 26-18 home loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sept. 20. It was his second 400-yard outing of the season and fifth overall in just 26 career CFL starts.

Brown's first 400-yard outing of this season came in the season-opening 31-26 loss to the Roughriders. He passed for 413 yards and two touchdowns in that contest as Ottawa fell to a 1-6-1 in its last eight outings against Saskatchewan.

Ottawa also made a surprise trade this week, sending defensive lineman Lorenzo Mauldin IV to the Calgary Stampeders for a fourth-round pick in 2026. Mauldin was the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2022.

Redblacks coach Bob Dyce expressed disappointment with the trade during media availability before turning the focus to the Roughriders.

"We focus on what's in front of us," Dyce said. "We've got a game plan that we focus on and we're focused on making sure we get better here every day."

--Field Level Media