With the CFL season coming soon, Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris is confident he will be ready for the first game.
Last season, Harris was mostly absent due to a significant knee injury. When asked about his knee, he jokingly said, “I don’t recall having a knee injury last year.”
The injury occurred in the fourth quarter of a game against Calgary just five weeks into the season. The tibial plateau fracture forced him to sit out for the rest of the year.
“Right now, I'm just doing maintenance,” Harris said. “I think I could've played in a game, maybe the West Final, but I would've been about 70 per cent. I don't know if I could've contributed to the team.”
Following Harris' injury, the team gradually fell apart and ended up losing their final seven games, resulting in them missing the playoffs completely.
The lack of success led to significant changes in the coaching staff and team, including the appointment of Corey Mace as the new head coach and Marc Meuller as the offensive coordinator.
“I believe the front office has done an outstanding job and has made a commitment to go all in this year,” Harris said.
He also mentioned that the team would have more offensive power with the addition of running back A.J Oullette and offensive lineman Jemarcus Hardrick.
Harris is entering his twelfth season in the CFL but states that he continues to learn something new every offseason.
“I always think, 'I'm prepared to be a coach now,' and then I go through an offseason, and I learn more than I ever thought I could in an offseason,” Harris said. “This year has been really enlightening and I'm getting really excited.”
Regarding his schedule before the football season starts, Harris shared that he spends most of his time in the weight room, practicing throwing, and finishes his day by being a dad.
This family commitment is part of the reason Harris is taking each season one at a time. At 37 years old, he mentioned that he hasn't discussed a contract extension with the Riders and emphasized that his family will always be his top priority. However, he has not indicated any intention to retire yet.
“I believe I could play into my 40s, if I wanted to. But I think it's a one-year-at-a-time situation. You have to assess: is this the best thing for my family?” Harris explained. “My wife, my kids, and following Jesus are the most important things to me, and I want to ensure that I prioritize them.”