REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be without running back Tre Mason and national receiver Jake Harty for most, if not all, of the 2019 season.

General Manager Jeremy O’Day revealed the news on Wednesday, the day after the start of CFL free agency.

“Tre actually had an ACL in the last game so he had surgery on the ACL and he’s going to miss the majority of the season,” said O’Day.

“Jake had a setback in his surgery and had to have a revision to his surgery, so it’s unfortunate but he’ll actually be out for the year as well.”

In addition to signing Zach Collaros and naming him the starter, the team has signed running back William Powell and Canadian receiver Cory Watson in what’s been a busy week for all nine CFL clubs.

Powell was the league’s second-leading rusher with the REDBLACKS in 2018, totaling 1,362 yards and six touchdowns while helping Ottawa reach the 106th Grey Cup presented by Shaw.

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A former third round NFL draft pick, Mason emerged as a promising young back for the Riders last season, rushing for 809 yards on 5.1 yards per carry. He teamed up with Marcus Thigpen and Cameron Marshall on the CFL’s second-ranked rushing attack, which averaged 111.9 yards per game.

Mason’s injury made the running back position a priority in free agency, with several starters available to sign.

“When that happens you’re naturally looking for who’s going to be your full-time running back,” said O’Day. “Thiggy’s a guy we like in the backfield but we like to use him as a returner, he has some value on special teams and that’s why we targeted William.”

O’Day said he was surprised Powell was available by the time free agency opened on Tuesday.

“There are some guys, when free agency opens, you wonder why they made it there,” he said. “He was a guy for as long as the free agent list was out that we targeted and we’d like to have.

“We’ve got a very good run game already, we were very successful in the run game already with our offensive line and having him is going to help.”