The Saskatchewan Roughriders defense is preparing to counter the aggressive downfield passing game of Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly during their matchup at Mosaic Stadium on Friday, June 26, 2026.
Kelly has thrown for 869 yards and seven touchdowns in two games this season, but he also leads the league with five interceptions, including four during last week's game against the Ottawa Redblacks.
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"I know his makeup, he's had some really good games moving the ball down the field, but there'll be some opportunities anytime the ball is in the air," said Riders head coach Corey Mace.
Mace noted that capitalizing on these defensive opportunities will depend entirely on his team being in the correct positions on the field.
"It's not exclusive to the offence, so it's just about being in the right position and capitalizing on our opportunities defensively," Mace said.
The Saskatchewan defense recorded a league-high 39 takeaways and 23 interceptions last season, but the unit has only generated a single fumble recovery over its first two games of the current campaign.
"I see opportunity for us as a defence to have our coming out party, get a lot of turnovers, and get a lot of stats," said Riders middle linebacker Jameer Thurman.
Thurman explained that the defensive unit has missed previous chances to alter the course of recent games.
"The opportunities have been there, but guys just haven't capitalized, honestly," Thurman said.
The linebacker emphasized that the team must execute plays successfully when the opportunities present themselves at home.
