Riders QB Darian Durant. (file photo)

Darian Durant was back on the field with the Saskatchewan Roughriders when they returned to practice on Wednesday at Mosaic Stadium, but he didn't last long.  The injured quarterback left practice as he continues to suffer from the hip flexor injury that forced him out of last week's win over Winnipeg in the second quarter.

"I went through individual drills, did some other things to test it out a little bit and it was a little sore, so I just went in to ice it down," explained Durant post-practice.

Durant says his chances of playing on Sunday in Montreal are up in the air, "Right now it's about 50/50.  There's still some swelling there, still some tenderness, but with the past couple days, it's definitely improved a lot.  I think it's only going to get better and I'll give it another shot (Thursday) and see where we are."

Head coach Corey Chamblin says the decision on their quarterback could come down to game time, but he would like to see Durant take some reps during practice this week, "Darian is one of those cases where it will probably come down to the end of the week, but I'm still expecting him to give it a go.

"He doesn't have to take all (the reps during practice), but I would just like him to take those during Day 3 to at least get the mental aspect of it."

Durant agreed with Chamblin and would like to get in some reps before playing against the Alouettes for the first time this season, "When you're facing a new team and you're trying to implement a couple different schemes, you want to get reps at it.  Me being a vet it's not as big of a deal."

The main concern with the injury is Durant's ability to move in the pocket.

"I can sit back there and throw all day, but it's when it's time to break a tackle, or get outside the pocket, and different things like that, that's when the trouble comes."

Chamblin added that he doesn't want to risk further injury to their starting quarterback if he isn't able to move around on the field, "It is football and sometimes you have to play through some things, and if he's able to play through it and the medical staff feels like he can, then we'll go that route, but if it's something they feel will become worse, or if he thinks it will, then of course I won't do that."

The Riders are back on the field at Mosaic Stadium on Thursday.  They will travel to Montreal on Friday after practice to adjust to the time change.  Kick off is on Sunday at 11:00am.

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