Saskatchewan Roughriders' head coach Corey Mace provided an injury update on returner Mario Alford.
"He went and got some final imaging [Tuesday], so we're waiting on the results,” Mace said.
“It's probably going to be tough for him to go this week. Drae's been waiting in the wings, an opportunity for him to show who he is."
While it’s not ideal for the Riders to possibly be without Alford, Mace is not panicking.
"That's a tough one to lose. Certainly, he's been playing out of his mind, I thought, to this point in the season. It sucks, but ultimately it sucks for him,” Mace said about Alford's injury.
“But in saying the same thing, we all have confidence in Drae to be able to go out there, execute and make plays. He showed to be really dangerous in the preseason. Now he's got guys in front of him blocking for him who have been doing it for the full season. We’ll see what that looks like."
During the Riders two preseason games this season, Drae McCray accumulated 240 punt and kick return yards. When Mace was asked about McCray's return style, he highlighted his courage.
"Fearless — I don't understand it. I obviously was never fast enough to do such a thing, but you've got a bunch of guys screaming down there trying to take your head off and sometimes we ask you to run in the teeth of it," Mace said.
"You've got to have a little bit of a screw loose, which I think Drae does. He hits the holes fast. It's a lot of space for him compared to the U.S. game. We'll see how it goes."
During the Green and White’s last game, in which the team suffered a 24-10 loss to the Calgary Stampeders, Alford suffered a hip injury.
This season, Alford ranks second in the CFL in kickoff return yards with 464 and one return was brought back for a touchdown. He’s third league-wide in punt return yards with 266.
The 34-year-old Alford is questionable to return for the team’s Week 6 game against the B.C. Lions on Saturday. McCray is the favourite to take over his return responsibilities.
"I'm excited, I'm thankful," McCray said. "People have been helping me, bringing me along, so I'm excited for the opportunity if it comes."
For McCray, it has been a great experience to be learning from Alford when it comes to returning in the CFL.
"He helps me wherever I need, if he has a tip or something or if I have a question," McCray said.
"Sometimes we bounce ideas off each other to help each other get better. He's been a really big help and a really good mentor for me."
Saskatchewan travels to B.C. to take on the Lions on Saturday. Be sure to catch the pre-game show with Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk, and Wes Cates at 2 p.m. Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder have the game call at 5 p.m. You can hear everything on the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network.
