Courtesy Regina Leader Post:

It hasn’t been an easy few weeks to be a Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver.

If you weren’t one of the ones suffering an injury, it meant being pulled quickly off the bench and inserted into or being moved around within an ever-changing lineup.

The CFL team has not used the same starting slotbacks and wide receivers in consecutive weeks since its Oct. 8 game against the Calgary Stampeders and the first of a home-and-home series with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Oct. 14.

“We just have to roll with it,” said Michael Palmer, who has been deployed at slotback and wide receiver in that time. “There’s so many things that are better than focusing on that. We focus on the good stuff — we’re in the playoffs, we’re hosting the game here and all the Rider Nation is excited about it.”

Changes were first necessitated when wide receiver Matt Dominguez went down with a season-ending knee injury back on Sept. 9.

On Oct. 24, wide receiver Yo Murphy tweaked a hamstring in practice and was forced to miss the Roughriders’ final two regular-season games. Two weeks ago, slotback Andy Fantuz was forced to miss a game with thigh injury. And then just last week, Mike Washington, suffered a torn patella tendon in his right knee in practice.

Washington’s injury occurred Thursday, just two days before the Riders were to take the field against the Toronto Argonauts, leaving the coaching staff to make some quick decisions. Things are a little easier this week with a full slate of practices to evaluate which receiver will play where.

“It’s part of the business,” said receivers coach Paul LaPolice. “It’s something we have to adapt to and I think as a staff and as a team, the players have really adapted well. And we’re having a new guy come in and step up and make plays. Andy (Fantuz) couldn’t play one week, Mike Palmer comes in and plays well. Matt Dominguez goes down, Mike Washington goes in and plays well.”

Changes are probably coming again for Sunday’s West semifinal against the visiting Stampeders with the return of Murphy. He will likely line up at one receiver spot with Corey Grant on the other side and D.J. Flick and Andy Fantuz — the only constants over the stretch — at slotback.

“I feel pretty good,” said Murphy. “I’ve just been trying to work my way back in and not put too much pressure on my hamstring. I tried to go full speed (Wednesday). On (Tuesday) on a couple routes I got in a good stride, but I didn’t want to go full-tilt. I did (Wednesday) and it felt good.”

The veteran receiver doesn’t foresee any problems after sitting out two weeks and being plunked back into the lineup in a middle of a playoff game where the intensity is increased.

“The big thing is, I have to do everything is get my leg right,” said Murphy. “The great thing about pressure games is you can use it to your advantage. It can give me a big boost, give me my wind and I’ll be all right.”

In addition to the aforementioned pass catchers, Palmer, Vincent Marshall and Khalil Hill will also be in the mix.

With all the changes, is it difficult for the receivers on the field to get used to one another’s tendencies?

“The new guy coming in hasn’t had as much experience running those routes, so you have to expect a certain amount of change,” said Palmer. “You have to be able to adapt to that. But it’s not a negative change. We’re excited, we want to ball out and do this together. This is why we’re pros.”