Saskatchewan Roughriders' defensive back DaMarcus Fields is not worried about his style of play, even if it could lead to defensive pass interference.
"I keep going, if I do get a PI, I get up for the next play. My brothers, they lean on me," Fields explained to the Riders Broadcast Network. "When it happens, they shake me up, we clap hands and we're going to get the next one. Regardless of what happens, we're playing for each other. We squash the play, that's defence for us -- that's how it is."
The Green and White defeated the B.C. Lions 33-27 in Week 7, improving to 5-1. During the game, the Riders' defence forced two turnovers against Canadian QB Nathan Rourke and the Lions. The 27-year-old Fields finished the game with four defensive tackles and two special teams tackles.
"Rourke, he's a really good quarterback with really good receivers. We wanted to play top down on the receivers and be aggressive," Fields explained. "I feel like last game, we weren't aggressive enough, so that was our game plan. Top down being able to see the ball thrown, come in and make a play on the ball. We knew what routes we were going to get, so we wanted to latch on and play aggressive."
The six-foot, 200-pound defensive back is in his second year with Saskatchewan. Last year, he played 18 regular season games for the Roughriders, accumulating 49 defensive tackles, four special team tackles, one sack and one interception. Before joining the Riders, Fields spent some time in the NFL, first with the New Orleans Saints in 2022, then later with the Washington Commanders from 2022 to 2023.
"I'm trying to put in work every day -- I love football. I'm happy to get the opportunity to play for the Saskatchewan Roughriders," Fields said. "I love this team, I love the coaching staff, I love the players. I try to do what I can do best for the team."
Saskatchewan's head coach Corey Mace notices and appreciates Fields' hard work and determination.
"At that position, field half is probably one of the hardest positions to play on the defence, there's so much space out there. You've got to communicate like crazy; Fields does that. He's a young buck, still only in his second year, he commands over there on the field side; how we've got to get things going. Kudos to him," Mace said.
"I think he's growing. He's able to touch the ball a couple of times so far this year, I know he's still waiting to squeeze one in, but he's a hell of a tackler, great in the screen game. I'm going to tell him to clean up these DPIs. Other than that, I love Fields."
The next game on the Green and White schedule is hosting the Edmonton Elks on Friday at Mosaic Stadium.
"I always say Edmonton's a real good team, they're just missing little pieces. They've got a great quarterback, I like Tre Ford. They've got a good running back with [Javon] Leake. I like what they've got over there," Fields said. "We're going to prepare for them like we prepare for anybody else, regardless of what their record is."
Join Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk, and Wes Cates for the pre-game show at 4 p.m. Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder have the game call at 7 p.m. You can hear our coverage live on radio and streaming on the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network.
