Each week of the CFL season, The News Review Sports will recap the week that was in Rider Nation as well as preview the upcoming week's action in a weekly segment called Rider Report.
For most of Week Three at the CFL's worst stadium in the Rogers Centre (is there honestly an uglier place to watch a football game on TV?) what Roughriders fans saw was another exhibit of just how far the team has game since a lengthy losing streak and first round exit raised questions heading into the winter. Now after retooling for a run at making the final Grey Cup to be hosted at Taylor Field/ Mosaic Stadium, the Riders looked like the team that went to three Grey Cups at the turn of the decade.
Saskatchewan picked apart to defending Grey Cup champions after falling behind to the Argonauts in the first quarter with Durant registering an impressive night in the air in leading the Riders. A first quarter touchdown pass to Rob Bagg capping off Bagg's return from ACL injuries on both knees started what was a dominant performance from Durant as he connected on two deep touchdown passes with Taj Smith that were the difference maker in a 39-28 win.
Smith's 70 yard touchdown in the third quarter gave the Riders a 29-14 lead and they never looked back from that point as a 37 yard touchdown run from Kory Sheets and a 21 yard field goal from Chirs Milo in the fourth quarter was enough to preserve the Riders undefeated record and another impressive win over a top team from 2012. Without Geroy Simon, the Riders still looked like one of the CFL's best teams pounding the Argonauts in the run game with 229 rushing yards to just 75 and getting a strong statline from Durant with 14/19 completions, 246 yards, three touchdowns and most importantly no interceptions.
Yet all of that excitement was replaced with injury speculation as Drew Willy was forced to replace Durant to close out the fourth quarter before Rider fans worst fears were confirmed when Durant showed up with a walking boot to Riders practice and confirmed that his status for Sunday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats is up in the air.
"I'm definitely not going to put this team in a bad situation or put myself in a bad situation," Durant said to the media on Tuesday. "If I can't be myself and can't play at a high level, then I won't go.'' That sentiment was echoed by head coach Corey Chamblin who sees no use in risking the 30 year old quarterback if he can't be his mobile self with backup Drew Willy ready in case of emergency.
"Darian has to be Darian, and he has to be well enough to help us win," said Chamblin. "It's no different than things on the defensive side of the ball. We're looking for healthy players. Like I told the guys today, all that 'backup' means is, 'You're the next guy up and we expect you to do as well as the guys who are playing. That's why we kept you here and if (Durant) is not 100 or what we think to be a good enough percentage for him to play, he won't play.''
Drew Willy is a more than capable backup quarterback with a memorable Banjo Bowl comeback against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to his name last season, but with two straight games against the Tiger-Cats looming Roughrider fans are going to be hopeful that Durant can manage to play in at least one of those games and carry the momentum he has been building in what has been a much better 2013 season that has Durant leading the league in passing touchdowns with eight while managing to avoid throwing an interception, benefiting from an improved offensive line and a new scheme under offensive coordinator George Cortez.
With Kory Sheets and the offensive line racking up the rushing yards, the load on Drew Willy won't be as big of a burden, but with the Riders playing the patient approach with Geroy Simon and a looming bye week coming after the two game series with the Tiger-Cats there is a possibility that should Durant remain day to day these two weeks that the Riders operate with their most healthy option in Willy.
Still with momentum riding high, a Jonathan Williams sack has derailed what has been a bullet train of momentum to start the Roughriders 2013 season. If Durant's sprained right foot doesn't heal fast, that momentum may be put on ice until he can return.
