Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Jordan Williams-Lambert (17) during practice. (Britton Gray/980 CJME)

By Britton Gray/CJME News Staff

‘It’s exciting’: Jordan Williams-Lambert to play against Blue Bombers

Oct 1, 2019 | 5:28 PM

As the Saskatchewan Roughriders enter the final stretch of the CFL regular season, the offence is to get another weapon to add to its aerial attack.

Slotback Jordan Williams-Lambert is make his season debut on Saturday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Kickoff for the game at Mosaic Stadium is set for 5 p.m.

“It’s exciting. I’m going to try and add a little bit of playmaking and try to continue to be a part of their offence and not necessarily try to disrupt it being a new piece to the offence,” Williams-Lambert, 25, said following Tuesday’s practice.

Williams-Lambert re-signed with the team in September after heading south to the NFL to try out for the Chicago Bears. He joins a team that is vying for first place in the West Division, with the Roughriders, Blue Bombers and Calgary Stampeders all having nine wins on the year.

Williams-Lambert said the challenge for him has been trying to get in line with an offence that has had success all season. Quarterback Cody Fajardo had one of his best games of the season through the air against the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, tossing three touchdowns and throwing for 278 yards.

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“I don’t want to be a drawback or limit the offence,” said Williams-Lambert, who was the West Division’s most outstanding rookie last season after catching 62 passes for 764 yards and four touchdowns.

Despite the success the receiving group has had this season, Williams-Lambert said he was only focused on his game and not about if a spot would open up for him.

“I try to worry about me. If I’m playing my best football then I think everything else will take care of itself,” Williams-Lambert said. “Right now I’m just thankful to be in the lineup and have an opportunity to play this weekend.”

Williams-Lambert will take the spot of veteran Emmanuel Arceneaux in the game-day lineup. Arceneaux recorded his best game as a member of the Green and White against the Argos, recording two catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.

“He was disappointed but Manny’s a pro,” head coach Craig Dickenson said. “He knows it’s a tough roster to crack right now and we’ve got good depth.

“We were very up front with Manny and didn’t try to BS him at all. We just felt like we need to get Jordan out there and see what he can do.”

With Williams-Lambert taking his spot, the 32-year-old Arceneaux spent time during practice talking to the younger receiver to offer advice ahead of the game.

“Manny’s a good dude and that’s why we signed him,” Dickenson said. “(General manager Jeremy O’Day) pinpointed him as a guy that we felt like could bring leadership to the team and still had some good football in him, which he does. On top of that, we felt like he was a guy that could lead by example and be a real mentor to some of the younger guys.”

Williams-Lambert had benefited from having a savvy veteran in the locker room to help him out as he readjusted to the Canadian game.

“The amount of knowledge that he has about the game and offence and just different things he knows about this league,” Williams-Lambert said. “I try to pick his brain every time I can and he’s always giving me pointers on what to do and what can help my game so he’s been a real big help to me.”

Notes: Defensive lineman Zack Evans (sports hernia) is practising again. He is eligible to come off the six-game injured list this week … The Green Zone pre-game show gets underway at 3 p.m. Saturday.