Game on. The Canadian Football League confirmed Thursday that this weekend’s Toronto Argonauts at Saskatchewan Roughriders game had been rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday.
The TDA 2022 rematch will now occur at 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time and 7 p.m. Toronto time on Sunday, July 24.
Argonauts Roughriders Rematch Redux Part Two
The potential postponement and rescheduling of the Argos-Riders rematch were caused by several positive COVID-19 tests among Riders players and staff earlier this week. The situation has improved, and medical officials are now confident the game can go ahead safely on Sunday.
The league, Saskatchewan, and Toronto dodged a bullet of having to postpone and rework team scheduling. Something that the CFL sees as an absolute last resort solution. Something they begrudgingly ended up doing a year ago to accommodate the Edmonton Elks.
“To have to move our game is a worst-case scenario for us and something we never want to have to do,” Roughriders president and CEO Craig Reynolds said in a team-issued statement.
“We know that our fans often plan to attend Rider games weeks and months in advance, and there can be a lot of travel and logistics involved in that decision. For that, we are truly sorry, but we hope by keeping the game on the same weekend and moving it to Sunday, our fans will still be able to make it out to enjoy Family Day at Mosaic Stadium.”
Earlier on Thursday, TSN’s Farhan Lalji reported that Saskatchewan was planning on having its first practice of the week. A positive sign that this weekend’s game would still be taking place. Saskatchewan is not only dealing with a reported ten players recovering from COVID. But the Riders have several key figures nursing injuries like QB Cody Fajardo.
However, the Argos ominously released a statement Thursday morning that they were canceling their third practice of the week at Lamport Stadium. It led some to speculate that it could foreshadow a postponement of Saturday’s game. However, the team announced that the decision had nothing to do with any COVID-related or any other issues. Sources indicate that practice was canceled due to heat-related concerns from the rising temperatures in Toronto. The Argos erred on the side of player safety.
The team still conducted meetings and off-field workouts.
*UPDATED* PRACTICE AND MEDIA AVAILABILITY SCHEDULE – THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022
THURSDAY, JULY 21
Today’s practice has been canceled, as well as media availability. This decision made by the team is not COVID-19 related.
Toronto also released a statement to the media about the Week 7 rescheduling. No word yet on if the Argonauts will resume practice tomorrow. You would assume that the team would practice or have a walk-through one more time before heading on the road. Because of the rescheduling, they will have an extra day to prepare for their trip to Regina this weekend.
Thursday’s news is a best-case scenario for the entire league. The Riders get some extra time to get back on track. And the Argos are not forced to lose a bye week and play nearly four straight months of football without one. Toronto will now have two straight Sunday games in Week 7 and Week 8, and they will return home next week at BMO Field to face the Ottawa Redblacks.
