Now that star quarterback Nathan Rourke is back with the B.C. Lions, the 2024 Grey Cup hosts seem to have dramatically boosted their chances of becoming the first team to win the title tilt at home since the 2013 Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Canadian’s decision to return to B.C., after four NFL stops without a real chance to make any sort of impact the past two years, continues what has been a roller-coaster ride for CFL QBs in the past few weeks.
Eight of nine teams are expected to have started at least two different quarterbacks by the end of this week — Week 11 in a 21-week season.
Three of the top five passers in the league have lost their starting jobs, while other top pivots have battled injuries.
Let’s go around the league and look at the current quarterback landscape.
East Division
Montreal Alouettes (8-1)
The impressive Alouettes haven’t missed a beat without Cody Fajardo (hamstring), who has missed the past three games.
Davis Alexander replaced an ineffective Caleb Evans three games ago and has guided the reigning Grey Cup champs to a 3-0 record.
While Fajardo has been pushing to come back for Friday’s first visit to Saskatchewan since the Roughriders cut ties with him following the 2022 season, it seems more likely he’ll rest one more week. The Alouettes have a nine-day window before they return to action following the trip to Regina.
Ottawa Redblacks (5-2-1)
First-year starter Dru Brown exited last week’s tie against Saskatchewan with a leg injury and was replaced by Dustin Crum.
On Thursday in Calgary, veteran Jeremiah Masoli is expected to make his first start since he returned from a lengthy injury absence early last year, only to suffer another season-ending injury (Achilles).
Brown has been throwing balls on the field at practice this week, so he’s expected to return before too long. Like the Alouettes, the Redblacks have a nine-day window before their next game.
Brown has shown signs he’s capable of being the answer at quarterback for the improving Redblacks, who have had a revolving door at QB for a half decade.
Toronto Argonauts (5-4)
Veteran Nick Arbuckle did enough last week to help the Argos pull a win out against Calgary after Cameron Dukes started the first eight games of the season.
Now, we wait to see what the CFL says about reigning most outstanding player Chad Kelly. Last weekend, the league said it is initiating a review to determine a possible reinstatement for the Buffalo native, who was suspended for at least nine games for violating the league’s gender-based violence policy.
Toronto is off this week before returning next Thursday for Game 10 of its season versus Saskatchewan. A decision likely has to come by this weekend as the Argos start making preparations for their annual CNE game next week.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-7)
Veteran Bo Levi Mitchell was replaced by Taylor Powell last week after an interception in a loss against Montreal.
A visibly angry Scott Milanovich said after the game that Powell would replace Mitchell as starter this week against Edmonton.
Mitchell leads the league in passing yards, but also is tops in interceptions.
Powell showed promise last year after Mitchell went down with an injury.
The Ticats desperately need a win this week to stay relevant in the second half of the season.
Either way, the Ticats’ decision to make Mitchell a big off-season signing prior to the 2023 season now looks like a bad mistake.
West Division
Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-3-1)
Young Shea Patterson (2-3-1 as a starter) has kept the Roughriders afloat while veteran Trevor Harris has been sidelined with a knee injury.
Harris has taken the first-team reps this week and is poised to return Friday against the Alouettes.
Harris, 38, was playing very well before going down, but this is the second year in a row he has missed multiple weeks with an injury.
B.C. Lions (5-4)
The return of Rourke is a huge boost for the struggling Lions, who have lost three in a row after a hot start.
The Victoria native picked a perfect time to come back as Vernon Adams Jr. (knee) missed the last game with a knee injury.
The Lions have said they do not plan to trade Adams this season. He was looking like a most-outstanding-player candidate before the injury, so maybe the Lions find ways to use both quarterbacks in different packages.
Adams figures to be a trade candidate in the off-season, but for the rest of this year, the Lions probably have two of the league’s best quarterbacks on their roster.
Another bonus: The Lions are playing a home game on Aug. 31 in Victoria. What a homecoming that will be for Rourke.
Calgary Stampeders (4-5)
The Stamps really are the only team that hasn’t had quarterback drama the past two years.
However, that doesn’t mean things are great.
Jake Maier is third in the league in passing this season, but the Stamps are averaging the second-fewest points in the league. He hasn’t yet developed into one of the league’s marquee pivots, which was the hope of Calgary when the Stamps promoted Maier to the starter’s role ahead of Mitchell midway through the 2022 season.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-6)
Star QB Zach Collaros hasn’t been as good as usual this year, though he is coming off his best outing of the season in a win against B.C.
Collaros missed one game earlier this season with a thorax injury, allowing Chris Streveler to get his first start since coming back from the NFL.
At their best, Collaros and Streveler can be a great 1-2 punch. But they haven’t hit top form consistently this season.
Edmonton Elks (2-7)
Dynamic Canadian quarterback Tre Ford led the Elks to their first win of the season after an 0-7 start, but then suffered a rib injury last week and was replaced by previous starter McLeod Bethel-Thompson in a victory against B.C.
Why the Elks waited so long to give the former University of Waterloo star a shot is a very good question — head coach/GM Chris Jones lost his job in the midst of the club’s season-opening losing skid.
Ford was limited in practice Tuesday and it seems unlikely he’ll start this week. The Elks have to hope the veteran Bethel-Thompson can keep the team’s winning ways going.
Saturday’s game in Hamilton almost feels like an elimination game, as both teams try to stay in the playoff hunt.
Game of the Week
Rourke’s return against the visiting Blue Bombers should be fun.
Rourke’s last CFL game was a loss to Winnipeg in the 2022 West final.
Star receiver Kenny Lawler is expected to return for Winnipeg after breaking his arm in the season opener.
Here’s a look at the full schedule.
Thursday: Ottawa Redblacks at Calgary Stampeders, 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. local
Friday: Montreal Alouettes at Saskatchewan Roughriders, 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. local
Saturday: Edmonton Elks at Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 7 p.m. ET and local
Sunday: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at B.C. Lions, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. local