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MONTREAL — Cody Fajardo isn’t prepared to play the numbers game.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ starting quarterback will stick with No. 7 even though his preferred number — 17 — recently became available.

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Fajardo explained before Friday’s 17-10 CFL victory over the host Montreal Alouettes that a number change would “mess up the fans who purchased my jersey. They aren’t very cheap. It wouldn’t be smart for me to switch for the fans who invested in that jersey.”

Fajardo wore No. 17 while starring at the University of Nevada. He also stands on the 17-yard line during the national anthem, without exception, and has the number in his Twitter handle (@CodyFajardo17).

Zach Collaros, who started at quarterback for Saskatchewan in the 2019 season opener, wore No. 17 before being sidelined with a concussion June 13 against the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Collaros was still on the six-game injured list when he was traded to the Toronto Argonauts on July 31. So far this season, he has participated in only three offensive plays.