Murray McCormick
Leader-Post

REGINA -- Ryan Dinwiddie returns as the Saskatchewan Roughriders' starting quarterback with something to prove.

Dinwiddie is to start Saturday's meaningless CFL game at Mosaic Stadium against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. It's Dinwiddie's first start at quarterback since Oct. 10, when he threw three first-half interceptions in a 17-1 loss to the host Edmonton Eskimos.

“My last start didn't go the way I wanted it to,” Dinwiddie said after Tuesday's practice at Mosaic Stadium. “We moved the ball on them and it was obviously a tough game. I can't turn the ball over when we have a chance to score a field goal.”

Dinwiddie is starting because the Riders have decided to shut down No. 1 quarterback Darian Durant with two games remaining in the regular season. Cole Bergquist moves to second on the QB depth chart from third.

“This is an opportunity to play the other guys and it's important that we evaluate them,” said Riders head coach Ken Miller.

Dinwiddie made his first start with the Riders on Oct. 10 because Durant was nursing a broken bone in his left foot and a sprained left ankle. Edmonton led 12-0 after the first half, prompting Miller to replace Dinwiddie with Durant. Durant wasn't able to generate any offence in a game the Riders needed to win to keep their West Division playoff hopes alive.

Durant started Oct. 16 against the visiting B.C. Lions despite his injuries. The Riders needed to win that game to keep their marginal chances alive for a crossover berth into the East Division playoffs. B.C. prevailed 2918, ending the Riders' slim playoff hopes.

Durant started Friday's 25-13 loss to the host Calgary Stampeders because Miller felt that Durant could use the repetitions. Durant didn't finish the game after being sacked early in the fourth quarter by Calgary's Demetrice Morley. Durant suffered a slight concussion, but Miller said the quarterback was fine. Morley's hit is among the reasons why Durant isn't starting the Riders' final home game of the 2011 season Saturday. It's unlikely he'll start in the season finale on Nov. 4 at Commonwealth Stadium against the Eskimos.

“This is the best place to play,” said Durant, who is still expected to dress because the Riders (4-12) have only three quarterbacks on their roster. “The fans have been behind us all season and through the tough times. It's always exciting to play at Mosaic Stadium. It's disappointing in that fact, but we have to do what's best. “

Durant and Miller discussed what they should do with the starting quarterback after Friday's game. They decided to do what was best for the Riders heading into the 2012 season.

“I know that I only get two more shots at this in 2011,” Durant said. “That's what made me reluctant to agree. The more you think about and watch the hit that I took from Calgary - we don't want anything like that to happen again.”

Durant will spend the remaining two weeks of the season assisting Dinwiddie and Bergquist.

“I will help Ryan and Cole as much as I can,” Durant said. “There are some new receivers coming in and I want to help them as well. There are also a couple of other injuries that haven't been stated yet. They can use some rest as well. I'll just use it as some heal-up time.”

The Riders are playing out the season without any hope of making the playoffs. Given the circumstances at quarterback, Dinwiddie said there is still meaning to the last two games.

“Anytime you get to play is important, especially for the quarterback position,” said the 30-year-old Dinwiddie. “The eye in the sky looks at you more than the other guys. It's another football game and we have to come out and do some good things.”

Bergquist hopes that he'll have more of an opportunity to contribute than he did on Friday when he was used in short-yardage situations. Bergquist, 25, successfully converted both of his chances.

“Going in and out for one play is not why I moved from thousands of miles away to come to Canada,” said Bergquist, who hails from San Clemente, Calif. “It was a good start, I guess.”

Courtesy: www.leaderpost.com