Riders' Bertrand-Hudon becomes 1st to wear Guardian Cap in regular-season game

Saskatchewan Roughriders running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon made history Friday, becoming the first professional football player to wear a Guardian Cap in a regular-season game.

Bertrand-Hudon, 27, is in his second year with Saskatchewan after being selected in the fourth round of the 2023 CFL Draft. The Quebec native played collegiately at Delaware State.

Earlier this year, the CFL implemented the option to wear Guardian Caps during regular-season games and became the first professional North American sports league to make mouthguards mandatory. Ahead of the 2023 campaign, the league had mandated using the protective soft-shell helmet covers in training camp and all contact practices during the regular season.

The 2024 campaign marks the first year that NFL players can wear Guardian Caps during regular-season games after the league adjusted its rules in April.

Several NFL players have worn Guardian Caps over their helmets during this year's preseason contests. Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor wore one during his team's preseason opener against the Denver Broncos earlier in August. Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman James Daniel was the first NFL player to wear the soft-shell covering during a preseason game.

"Guardian Caps have contributed to a nearly 50% reduction in concussions for the position groups that wore them during those time periods (training camps in 2022 and 2023)," NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller said earlier this year, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert.