Mario Annicchiarico
Edmonton Journal

VANCOUVER -- Returner Tristan Jackson has officially been left off the 46-man roster, meaning Skyler Green will make his debut tonight for the Edmonton Eskimos.

"I'm looking forward to it. I'm very excited and I just have to go out there and let the opportunity present itself and when it does present itself, I have to make a big play," said Green, a Louisiana State product who was at NFL camp with the New Orleans Saints earlier this year.

Now he gets into the final game of the regular season, in a dome at B.C. Place where it's climate-controlled and special teams can make a difference.

"I have to go out and play within myself and do everything I know I'm capable of doing and that's making those big plays," said Green, who joined the Eskimos on Oct. 6. He last played in an NFL pre-season tilt against the Miami Dolphins.

A fourth-round selection (125th overall) by Dallas in the 2006 NFL draft, Green, 25, has spent time with the Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals (2007) and the Saints, where he played the final two regular-season games of 2008 and returned four kickoffs for 133 yards. Green played two games for Dallas in 2006, and seven with Cincinnati in 2007, when he caught three passes for 33 yards.

At Louisiana State, Green had 111 receptions for 1,129 yards and nine touchdowns and four punt-return touchdowns. In 2003 he led the NCAA in punt-return average at 18.5 yards.

The five-foot-nine, 191-pounder also has a great sense of humour. When asked if he was familiar with the CFL rules, and specifically the absence of a fair catch, he laughed and replied: "We're good with that. We're good with that. I won't throw my hand up at all."

Jackson, meanwhile, remained at home, suffering from the flu, as did Esks' third-string quarterback Jared Zabransky, who may rejoin the club today in Vancouver.

Harris denied

Former Esks running back A.J. Harris is out of the Lions lineup tonight as Martell Mallett returns from his foot injury.

"This is the one I wanted to play all year," said a disappointed Harris, who was vocal upon his release from Edmonton this spring.

"After I got back(to the CFL), I was waiting to play this one. It doesn't work out that way, that part is not fun, but at least I'm here.

"I was their running back last year and I wanted to play against them real bad, but I guess I won't get that chance."

Up for grabs

Aside from the Western playoff spot, there are other bragging rights up for grabs tonight.

-Fred Stamps leads the league in reception yards at 1,300, 81 ahead of B.C.'s Geroy Simon.

-B.C.'s Ricky Foley leads the league in sacks with 12, one ahead of Saskatchewan's Stevie Baggs.

-The Eskimos are second-worst in the league in giveaways-takeaways difference at minus-13. B.C. is right behind at minus-11.

Courtesy: www.edmontonjournal.com