Day of two-way player back in CFL, Duron Carter set to play at WR/CB for Saskatchewan Roughriders

AFI | American Football | 10/19/2017

Saskatchewan Roughriders wide receiver Duron Carter makes a one-handed grab for a touchdown against the Toronto Argonauts Photo: Mark Taylor The Canadian Press

Following a 231 yard receiving performance last week against the Ottawa REDBLACKS, Saskatchewan Roughriders talented wide receiver Duron Carter, son of Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter, will now be doing double duty against the Calgary Stampeders this week.

Roughriders head coach Chris Jones confirmed that Carter will be starting at cornerback while also seeing plenty of playing time at receiver and returning kicks.

The Riders take on the Stampeders on Friday night at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, where a victory clinches Saskatchewan’s first playoff berth since 2014.

The CFL’s fifth-leading receiver was spotted throughout practice wearing a green No. 89 jersey, the color green being worn by defensive players only. Carter’s move to DB was later confirmed by the Riders, who tweeted that Carter will play both sides of the ball on Friday night.

Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Ed Gainey outleaps teammate Duron Carter to record his fourth interception during second half CFL action against the B.C. Lions in Regina on Sunday, August 13, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Taylor

Two-way players, while rare, are not totally uncommon. Hall of Famer Deion Sanders while predominantly a defensive back, started both ways for the Dallas Cowboys in 1996. Other famous examples in the NFL included Philadelphia Eagles lineman Chuck Bednarik who started both ways in the 1960s and more recently Orlando Brown who started at defensive and offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens in 2003 and Champ Bailey who was a two-way starter at corner and wide receiver for Washington in 2000. In the Canadian Football League, Jerry Keeling toiled both sides of the ball at quarterback and defensive back for the Calgary Stampeders, Ottawa Rough Riders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 1960s and 70s.

Carter has seen time at defensive back before this season, getting reps late in a blowout win over the BC Lions earlier in the year and then as recently as two weeks ago in a road win over the Argos. But he’s never started a game on defense, nor received consistent playing time at the defensive back position.

Don’t do it Duron.. you’ll get 25 balls thrown at you. @DC_CHILLIN_8 https://t.co/foxY6Bm91z

— Bo Levi Mitchell (@BoLeviMitchell) October 18, 2017

It certainly makes Friday night’s game one to watch. Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has already prodded the outspoken pass-catcher on Twitter, promising to target him often. Carter, one of the league’s elite athletes, will also have his conditioning tested, something that was questioned by his coach earlier in the year.

This week is not the first time Carter has been in the spotlight. The 26-year-old is one of the league’s most talented and physically-gifted players, recording a minimum of 909 yards and five touchdowns in each of his four CFL seasons.

Source: CFL.ca