Roughriders’ QB Mason Fine accepts supporting role

Fine started four games for the Riders this season before suffering a hamstring injury.

Published Sep 15, 2023 • 3 minute read

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Mason Fine (8) throws during practice at Mosaic Stadium on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 in Regina. Photo by KAYLE NEIS /Regina Leader-Post

Even though Mason Fine is no longer starting games at quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, he’s doing what he can to help the team win.

After injuring his hamstring in Week 10 against the Montreal Alouettes, Fine has been sidelined for the last four games. He returned to the practice field in limited fashion last week and has been fully able to practice this week. However, he will be held out once again this week as the Riders host the Edmonton Elks at Mosaic Stadium on Friday (7:30 p.m., TSN).

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With Jake Dolegala set to get his fourth start of the season, Fine tries not to worry about uncontrollable circumstances, like when he might play again.

“I’m not going to look at the past or look at the future,” Fine said after practice this week. “I’m going to be where my feet are and that’s here in the present.

“Right now, we know where it stands, I’ve got to be the best teammate I can be for this team and be selfless when it comes to that.”

After Week 1 starter Trevor Harris was injured in Week 6, head coach Craig Dickenson and the Riders wasted no time naming Fine as the new starting quarterback moving forward, with Dolegala coming on to the roster as a backup.

And even after losing his first two starts of the season, Dickenson stuck with Fine. And that decision paid off, as the quarterback picked up his first career CFL victory in Week 9 against the Ottawa Redblacks.

Then came Week 10 and the injury in Montreal.

“It was frustrating just knowing I came off my first win as a quarterback,” said Fine, who completed 92-of-133 passes for 1,012 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions in parts of five games. “I felt like I was playing well.

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“You obviously don’t want to go down and especially lose that opportunity after the head coach gave you the support after a couple of tough weeks there knowing that the team is behind you.”

A month after his injury, the 26-year-old says he’s feeling great and was excited to get back to practice. And while the recovery process has been tough physically, it can also be draining mentally.

“Obviously it’s been kind of a long process,” said Fine. “You get a little frustrated at times, but you’ve got to be smart too when it comes to that and not to push it too much.

“You’ve got to be able to be strong mentally and get back to it physically.”

Fine is no stranger to being in a supporting role, having been a backup for the majority of his first two seasons with the Riders in 2021 and 2022, alongside then starter Cody Fajardo.

Now, he’s faced with a similar circumstance supporting Dolegala, who has completed 70-of-114 passes for 885 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in the five games he has appeared in.

However, Fine isn’t fazed by how the situation has played out and instead has accepted the role he is presented with now.

“That’s how life is sometimes, it’s not fair,” said Fine. “But you’ve just got to roll with the punches and just keep grinding away.

“I’m just going to do anything that I can to make it easier on (Dolegala) and make sure at the end of the day, he succeeds at his job so we can win games.”

tshire@postmedia.com