Around the CFL: Quarterback continues to be a volatile position

Another week, another quarterback shuffle.

While CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie praised the play of quarterbacks across the league in an interview with Sportsnet before Labour Day weekend, these still are not the Doug Flutie, Damon Allen, Anthony Calvillo days.

Sure, there have been better moments for QBs than, say, a few years ago when things seemed quite dire, but it's not a good thing when the quarterback for one of three teams currently out of a playoff spot is considered a strong candidate for the league's most outstanding player award.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats starter Bo Levi Mitchell — who lost his job earlier this year before getting it back because of an injury to Taylor Powell and now is playing some of his best football — actually might be considered the top QB in the league this year. His team has won three in a row, but the Ticats remain a long shot to make the playoffs at 5-9.

This week, we'll have at least two quarterback changes. Veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson replaces Canadian Tre Ford with the Edmonton Elks, who continue to show little faith in the University of Waterloo product. While Ford wasn't good last week in a loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, it just seems like he can't stay on the field for lengthy stretches because of injuries and/or team decisions to go in another direction.

"There has to be consistent play at that position,” Elks interim head coach Jarious Jackson told reporters, per 3DownNation, as his team prepares for a rematch with the Blue Bombers. “That’s the most important position on the field and when the play is inconsistent, then it shows in our play."

"... This is not personal whatsoever. I love every guy in that quarterback room, so it’s not personal. It’s about winning football games and that’s my job to make the tough decisions to win football games."

Meanwhile, Redblacks starter Dru Brown is out with a high ankle injury after exiting last week's loss against the Montreal Alouettes. Veteran Jeremiah Masoli gets the start in Saskatchewan against the Roughriders.

Brown guided Ottawa to a 7-2-1 start in his first year with the team after coming over from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but his play has dipped as the team has lost three of the past four.

“Dru’s had an ankle issue since way back in the Winnipeg game (a loss on July 5) and it’s progressively gotten worse,” coach Bob Dyce told reporters, per Postmedia. “The throwing motion, it isn’t just your arm and upper body. With the ankle hurting, the ability to move around and feel comfortable in the pocket – it all ties in together.”

All nine CFL teams have started at least two different quarterbacks this year.

Even the league-leading Montreal Alouettes have QB questions. This week, longtime Montreal Gazette football columnist Herb Zurkowsky wrote a column about how Als starter Cody Fajardo has received criticism from fans.

Fajardo is 2-1-1 since returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out for four games. In the stretch without Fajardo, backup QB Davis Alexander went 3-0 as a starter and won the fourth game in relief.

“The reality is the two worst positions you can play in pro sports in Montreal is to be the starting quarterback for the Alouettes and the goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens,” Als GM Danny Maciocia told Zurkowsky. “The reality is Anthony Calvillo went through it, Vernon Adams went through it, Trevor Harris went through it. Cody went through it last year.

“Grey Cup or no Grey Cup, MVP or no MVP, he’s going to go through it again this year. He’ll go through it as long as he’s the starting quarterback in Montreal, and when he’s no longer the starting quarterback, the next guy will go through it.”

Meanwhile, two of top QBs from the past two years haven't found top form. The B.C. Lions confirmed Nathan Rourke will remain as starter after a weird switch to Adams at halftime of their last game, a loss to Toronto, but the Canadian certainly hasn't hit his 2022 level since returning from the NFL last month.

Argos quarterback Chad Kelly also has been hit and miss since returning from a nine-game suspension. The 2023 CFL MOP was outplayed by Mitchell in a loss to the Ticats last week.

It all points to another off-season of dramatic movement at QB. But before then, we'll wait and see which QB can step up for the biggest moments of 2024.

Armstead vs. Redblacks

Ryquell Armstead was changing his tune this week.

After the running back signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week, Armstead was quick to poke the bear when asked about his former team, the Redblacks.

"It'll be good to see those guys, it'll be good to smile at the ones that put you down and tried to belittle you and keep proving them wrong as well," said Armstead, who was released by the Redblacks after some discipline concerns last month. "I'm just thankful and I'm very ready to see those guys."

This week, after running for 207 yards in a win over the Calgary Stampeders in his Riders debut, Armstead played down the opportunity to exact revenge against the visiting Redblacks on Saturday.

"It's going to be amazing to see familiar faces ... Put in a ton of blood, sweat and tears," he said. "But at the end of the day, I'm with Sask. I'm ready to ride and I'm looking forward to the opportunity."

No matter what Armstead says to the media, you can bet he'll be playing with some emotion against Ottawa.

Game of the Week

The surging Ticats can put the heat on West teams for a potential crossover playoff berth if they can upset the Lions in Vancouver on Friday.

Hamilton would be no worse than two points behind the third-place team in the West with a victory.

An East team has never crossed over to the West playoffs.

Here is the full Week 17 schedule.

Friday: Edmonton Elks (5-9) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-6), 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Friday: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-9) at B.C. Lions (7-7), 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT
Saturday: Ottawa Redblacks (8-5-1) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-7-1), 3 p.m. ET / noon PT
Saturday: Montreal Alouettes (11-2-1) at Toronto Argonauts (7-7), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT