Brayden Schager gives Riders tough quarterback decision after preseason breakthrough

Brayden Schager may not have stepped onto the field wearing an eyepatch, but Saskatchewan’s newest “pirate” certainly looked the part after a bruising, dramatic preseason performance against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Saskatoon.

The 23-year-old quarterback emerged from Saturday night’s clash with his right eye badly swollen and a visible cut underneath after taking an accidental finger to the face through his facemask. Despite barely being able to see, Schager somehow battled through the pain to lead a game-winning drive that instantly won over Rider Nation.

Still squinting during his post-game media duties, Schager admitted he could hardly see out of his right eye during the decisive final drive but refused to let the injury stop him.

The quarterback revealed there were moments he had to practically shut one eye and trust himself to keep throwing, but his determination never wavered. For Schager, adversity has been a constant throughout his football journey — and quitting was never an option.

The injury came courtesy of a collision with Winnipeg defensive lineman David Reese early in the fourth quarter, forcing Schager to briefly leave the field for medical checks. Yet even after returning and throwing a costly pick-six on his very next pass, the young quarterback refused to crumble.

Instead, he responded in dramatic fashion.

Schager engineered a clutch seven-play, 84-yard drive in the dying moments, ending with a touchdown pass to local product Daniel Wiebe to seal an impressive 31-27 comeback win. It was the type of gritty performance that instantly turns young quarterbacks into cult heroes on the prairies.

Finishing the night with 179 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions while completing 14 of 19 throws, Schager’s stat line only told part of the story. His toughness, refusal to quit, and ability to respond after setbacks may have done more for his standing than any perfect box score ever could.

Now, Saskatchewan faces a genuine quarterback dilemma.

Schager’s courageous display may have complicated the battle for the Riders’ backup role, leaving head coach Corey Mace with a difficult decision heading deeper into preseason.

Mace praised Schager’s resilience afterwards, highlighting how the quarterback responded after taking a painful knock, suffering a major mistake, and still finding a way to deliver when it mattered most — a mentality the Riders coach believes could translate well to the CFL.