Jake Maier takes first-team QB reps after Riders clinch top spot in West Division

Photo courtesy: Arthur Ward/CFL.
It appears as though the Saskatchewan Roughriders will start Jake Maier at quarterback in Week 20 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“Anytime you get a chance to play, you got to take advantage of those opportunities,” Maier said. “Anytime you get the opportunity to play in a professional football game, regardless of what it means to the standings, you have to show the organization that you belong, that you’ve earned the right to wear this uniform for this team.”

The 28-year-old took first-team reps at practice on Monday while Trevor Harris did not even suit up for the session at Mosaic Stadium. Maier started in Week 4 for the Green and White while Harris was out with a head injury. He completed 13-of-23 passes for 170 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in a 37-18 victory versus the B.C. Lions, who started Jeremiah Masoli at QB.

“We all know No. 7, he doesn’t ever want to take time away. I gave him the plan and he understands. Trev and I have such a good relationship, the respect is there, and it’s always about the team,” head coach Corey Mace said.

“It’s player-specific but rest maybe for a game — some guys still have to get out here and get some work in. It’s about sharpening our tools and everybody’s involved with that.”

Harris completed 23-of-29 passes for 340 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions as the Riders clinched first place in the West Division with a 27-19 win over the Toronto Argonauts in Week 19. That gave Saskatchewan the right to host the West Final on Saturday, November 8, and also the option to rest players in the final two regular-season games.

“I don’t know that there is a specific go-to recipe. Every team presents different challenges. Having a pulse on the locker room, a pulse on the guys, you’re looking at risk-reward, who is banged up and has been doing it for a while who could potentially use a little bit of time or some guys who are rhythm guys who need the reps. Everybody’s situation is different; I feel like we got a solid plan in place,” Mace said.

Through 15 starts in 2025, Harris has completed 73.1 percent of his passes for 4,437 yards (295.8 per game) with 24 touchdowns against 11 interceptions while compiling an 11-4 win-loss record. The 39-year-old franchise QB told 3DownNation he worked through a right throwing shoulder injury during the middle part of the season.

“You want him to be fresh. The arm is sore thing, he didn’t really tell us that, Trevor doesn’t really complain about anything. That other stuff, sometimes you guys find that out before me,” offensive coordinator Marc Mueller said.

Keeping Harris on the sideline for meaningless football and healthy for a run at the 112th Grey Cup makes sense for head coach Corey Mace, general manager Jeremy O’Day, and the entire Roughriders organization.

There are salary cap implications for Saskatchewan to consider when resting veteran players, but not at quarterback. Maier makes $165,000 in hard money for the 2025 season, plus $3,000 for each game he plays 51 percent or more of the offensive snaps. That’s the same per game playtime bonus that Harris has in his contract.

The Riders take on the Bombers at Princess Auto Stadium on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on 620 CKRM in Regina.