‘Long time coming’: Robustelli’s breakout performance Saturday capped with first CFL touchdown

Roughriders' receiver Joe Robustelli on scoring his first CFL touchdown

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ receiver Joe Robustelli made the most of an early season opportunity to crack the lineup.

“We knew when [Calgary] went four by one, I was going to have a one-on-one on the backside. [The coaches] challenged me to make some plays,” he told reporters after the Riders’ 24-10 loss to the Stampeders. “I’m just happy I got the opportunity to do so.

The second-year receiver out of Tusculum College was targeted 12 times by quarterback Trevor Harris, making 11 catches for 191 yards.

Robustelli also added his first professional touchdown reception in the third quarter – a major which at the time drew Saskatchewan within a score.

“It felt really good,” he said. “You kind of blackout a little bit when it happens. But I was excited to get my first one.”

In his three previous games with the Riders prior to Saturday, Robustelli had just 10 catches and 63 receiving yards.

He more than quadrupled his total, breaking out for his best performance as a pro.

“That’s what I’ve been barking about for the last year and half with Joe,” Harris said about his receiver. “He reminds me a bit of Greg [Ellingson]: very twitchy, makes tough catches, good after the catch, strong.”

“And I thought he did a great job today,” he added.

Robustelli joined the Riders at the start of the 2024 season and spent the majority of the year on the practice squad.

After showing a glimpse of greatness during Saskatchewan’s second pre-season game of 2025, he again started this year on the scout team.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Robustelli said. “So it felt really good to go out there and do my job.”

“We’ve seen it from him before,” head coach Corey Mace said. “We’re not shocked by that. He was out there competing his tail off and showed a little extra grit here and there.”

“Trevor found him, and not only just being open depending on what kind of coverage they were in but also being able to do it after the ball in the short stuff,” Mace added.

Despite Saturday’s game coming after a 19-hour delay to kickoff, Robustelli believed there was some comfortability in the situation.

“As the time went on, I was kind of like, ‘Are we going to play, are we not?” he recalled. “Then when you get to reset and you’re coming in here for a day game, you’re comfortable playing day games in college.”

Still, the receiver says a win would have made the performance feel a little better.

“It’s bittersweet, definitely,” Robustelli added. “When you perform like that, you’d like to celebrate it. But, it’s a team sport and we didn’t come out with a victory.”

With injuries to star receivers Shawn Bane Jr. and Samuel Emilus last week, Robustelli was slotted in to start for Saskatchewan Saturday.

It is unknown if Bane Jr. and Emilus will return to the lineup for Saskatchewan in Week 7 this upcoming Saturday against the B.C. Lions.

Updates on their status may come when the team returns to practice Tuesday.