This could be the opportunity that Craig Butler has been looking for.

The Roughriders all star safety from last season has seen less playing time this year, coming in only for certain plays and situations. Mostly thanks to the return of veteran safety James Patrick.

Well, a crack in the door is opening for Butler to re-take the number one safety spot on this team. Patrick has been watching practice so far this week, as he tries to recover from a foot injury.

"We have a couple of different options we can look at," said head coach Corey Chamblin.

So far this week, Butler has been out there a fair bit, but occasionally Macho Harris has seen a little bit of work at safety too, but he also appeared to suffer a knee injury on Thursday as well.

"I've been chomping at the bit since the first week of June," said Butler. "This week, it's no different for me. I'm just ready to go out there."

Butler feels he can bring a different feel to the defense, one with a little more grit to the field than Patrick.

"I just like to get in there and get my nose dirty whenever I can," said Butler. "Whatever they ask me to do, if I need to get up there and stop the run, I'm going to be back there, all the other DB's know I got their backs too, on the deep ball."

Last season, Butler made a huge impact right away, mostly for his huge hits, but that's not all he brings to the field.

"He's made plays, he's around the football," said defensive coordinator Richie Hall, who called Butler a play maker . "He's made interceptions, he's (made) fumbles."

The Riders are also dealing with some other injury problems, receiver Brooks Foster missed practice with an unknown injury, defensive end Brent Hawkins was also watching because of what Chamblin described as a "strain," but he wouldn't specify where. Offensive lineman Brendon LaBatte has also been a spectator so far this week with an "upper body injury."