There was plenty of news coming out of Thursday’s season preview conference call hosted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Riders' general manager and head coach Chris Jones and quarterback Zach Collaros were on the call to talk about the team's preparations for next week's training camp and the 2018 CFL season.

The Riders will hit the field for the first next Sunday in Saskatoon.

Collaros Anxious to Get Started

The Riders added Collaros in a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats just a few days in 2018.

The veteran pivot is looking forwards to hitting the field next week and starting fresh here in Saskatchewan.

"I'm just really looking forward to getting out there, meeting the guys and getting to work really, getting back on the football field and doing what I love," said Collaros. "I'm just really excited for the opportunity and the task at hand."

With a boat load of weapons around him, Collaros will be entering a very advantageous situation this year in Saskatchewan as he looks to rebound from a down season in Hamilton where he was bench midway through the year.

Collaros is hoping that will help him return to form.

"From watching these guys on film, obviously we have a lot of dynamic guys, guys that can go up and get the football, guys that are efficient in and out of their routes and guys that when they catch the ball are able to take it from a five-yard route to a 60-yard touchdown," he said.

Richardson Doubtful for Camp

Jones isn't expecting running back Trent Richardson to be in Saskatoon when they open training camp next week.

"Trent's got some situations going on at home, so we'll just have to see where that goes," said Jones.

The former NFL first round pick appeared in four games with the Riders last season, rushing for 259 yards and two touchdowns.

With Richardson possibly out of the picture, that leaves the Riders with Jerome Messam, Cameron Marshall and Marcus Thigpen as the only three running backs on the roster. Thigpen will also have to sit the first two games of the season due to a positive drug test during the offseason.

Carter Going Both Ways Again

Rider Nation can expect to see plenty of star Duron Carter again this season.

After spending time on both offence and defence during the 2017 season, Carter is expected to see time on both sides of the ball again this year.

"He's going to play defence and offence, I'm going to keep him very busy," said Jones on Thursday.

As eventful as his season was in 2017, the offseason wasn't a quiet one for the 1,000-yard receiver as Carter was arrested on two occasions for marijuana possession.

Jones doesn't see Carter's off field issues as a distraction for the team. "We'll just go about our business as usual, it's in the court’s hands and when they come down with their ruling, we'll be prepared either way," said Jones.

He added that he will continue to work with Carter, who had a team-high 1,043 receiving yards and eight touchdowns last season.

"We want him to make plays for us, help us win football games, but we want to bring him along in other ways as well," said Jones.