Around the CFL: Quarterbacking not a stable profession these days 

This is not the CFL with Doug Flutie, Matt Dunigan, Damon Allen, Tracy Ham and Danny McManus.

For proof, just look at what transpired last week with the league’s quarterbacking landscape.

In the span of a few days, there were dramatic developments – including the league’s best player this year suffering a potential season-ending injury and a two-time CFL most outstanding player losing his job.

Looking ahead to 2023, the only quarterback reasonably certain to be starting for the same team is reigning CFL most outstanding player Zach Collaros of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Let’s take a look around the league at the most important position on the field.

Montreal Alouettes

Veteran Trevor Harris seems to have secured the No. 1 spot after replacing Vernon Adams Jr. early in the season.

The 36-year-old played his best game of the season last week, throwing for 382 yards and three touchdowns in a win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

It’s hard to foresee Harris, who has had his ups and downs, as the long-term answer in Montreal. In a weak East Division, however, Harris could get the Alouettes to the Grey Cup this year if he keeps playing like he did last week.

Ottawa Redblacks

The Redblacks will have their third starting QB of the season this week when the well-travelled Nick Arbuckle goes against his old team, the Edmonton Elks.

Arbuckle started the opener this year for the Elks before being traded several weeks later to the Redblacks, who are the league’s worst team.

Ottawa lost its big signing, Jeremiah Masoli, to a long-term leg injury last month. Caleb Evans was next man up, but he struggled and was replaced by Arbuckle last week in a loss to the visiting Elks.

Toronto Argonauts

Veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson was the undisputed No. 1 entering camp, but he’s starting to feel the heat.

Bethel-Thompson has struggled on deep balls and the Argos have settled for too many field goals.

Highly-regarded rookie Chad Kelly is No. 2 on the depth chart. If Bethel-Thompson struggles this week against the Ticats, coach Ryan Dinwiddie might have a decision to make.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

The Ticats’ two-headed QB monster was broken up in the off-season when Hamilton re-signed Dane Evans while letting Masoli go to free agency.

However, Evans hasn’t been great this year — and he hasn't played the last two weeks because of a shoulder injury. He's scheduled to return as starter on Friday in Toronto against the Argonauts.

Matthew Shiltz, a backup or third-stringer in Montreal for most of last year, has started the last two games and done nicely. He also rotated with Evans for a few games before that.

It will be interesting to see how coach Orlondo Steinauer utilizes his quarterbacks going forward.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Now that B.C. Lions breakout star Nathan Rourke is out (more on that later), Collaros is the odds-on favourite to repeat as the league’s most outstanding player.

The 33-year-old has had a career renaissance since joining the Blue Bombers late in the 2019 season.

The Bombers are 26-2 when Collaros starts — winning the past two Grey Cups. Enough said.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Roughriders coach Craig Dickenson raised eyebrows when he replaced an ineffective Cody Fajardo with Mason Fine in a loss to the Lions last week.

However, Dickenson said he’s going back to Fajardo for the rematch in Vancouver on Friday.

Fajardo has been dealing with a lingering knee injury all season and just hasn’t played at his top level, but was still frustrated with being benched.

With the Roughriders at 5-5 and hosting the Grey Cup, Fajardo probably can’t afford another rough outing if he wants to keep his job.

Calgary Stampeders

Stampeders coach Dave Dickenson, like his brother Craig, replaced his struggling starter (Bo Levi Mitchell) with the backup (Jake Maier) last week in Toronto.

Unlike Saskatchewan, Calgary won — Maier was solid, but the Stamps defence was the biggest reason the team won.

The Stampeders are sticking with Maier on a short week as they head into Winnipeg on Thursday.

It will be Maier’s fourth career start, but first when Mitchell, a two-time MOP, is healthy.

Edmonton Elks

The Elks were the lone team without a firm No. 1 heading into the season, but Taylor Cornelius seems to have at least grabbed a temporary hold on the job.

A collarbone injury to Canadian Tre Ford opened the door for Cornelius, who has had his moments (though his numbers don’t scream superstar) for Chris Jones' rebuilding team.

Cornelius can go a long way to cementing his status as the top guy if he can lead Edmonton to its first home win since 2019 on Saturday against Ottawa.

B.C. Lions

In a major disappointment, Rourke is out for at least a few months, and maybe the rest of the year, after suffering a foot injury last week against Saskatchewan.

He will be undergoing surgery for a Lisfranc sprain in his right foot.

Even opposing coaches are down about the news.

The 24-year-old Canadian was on pace to set multiple records in his first season as a starter.

Rourke seemed like a sure bet to at least get an NFL look next season, but it will be interesting to see if he pushes that off for a year to try to have a strong full season north of the border.

Another Canadian, Michael O’Connor, is the new starter. When the Ottawa native starts Friday, it will mark the first time three Canadians have started at quarterback in the same season since 1968.

What we liked in Week 11

• Alouettes kicker David Cote hitting a 48-yard field goal as time expired to give his team a 29-28 win over visiting Hamilton. Cote missed a late 21-yarder earlier this year in Toronto, costing his team a likely win.

• Cornelius’ play in the second half against Ottawa. The Elks outscored the Redblacks 21-0 in the second half after trailing 12-9 at the break.

What we didn’t like in Week 11

• Redblacks coach Paul LaPolice not pulling Evans earlier against Edmonton. The Redblacks needed a spark and waited too long to try to get one.

• All the injuries – Rourke, impressive Stampeders rookie linebacker Titus Wall (foot), Argos defensive lineman Ja’Gared Davis (knee), Roughriders running back Jamal Morrow (hand) and Blue Bombers receiver Greg Ellingson (hip) were among the players hurt in the past week.

Week 12 picks

Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-6.5), Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

The Blue Bombers are coming off the bye after losing their first of the season the previous week in overtime. The Stampeders just played on Saturday in Toronto and are switching quarterbacks. PICK: Winnipeg

Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Toronto Argonauts (-2.5), Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

Third meeting of the month for the QEW rivals. Each team has won at home. PICK: Toronto

Saskatchewan Roughriders at B.C. Lions (-3.5), Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT

Second half of a home-and-home as the Lions try to maintain momentum without Rourke. PICK: B.C.

Ottawa Redblacks at Edmonton Elks (-3.5), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

Another home-and-home finale. Home field has been a disadvantage for both these teams for the past few years. PICK: Edmonton

Overall record: 25-18

(Odds from FanDuel as of Wednesday afternoon)

Power rankings

1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-1, Last week: 1): Coach Mike O’Shea has done wonderful work the past few seasons. The bye should help O’Shea get his team back on track after its first loss.

2. BC Lions (8-1, Last week: 2): An outstanding season is in jeopardy after Rourke’s injury. O’Connor has had limited playing time.

3. Calgary Stampeders (6-3, Last week 3): Bold move by Dave Dickenson to start Maier with Mitchell not in top form. Tough first test for Maier in Winnipeg.

4. Montreal Alouettes (4-6, Last week: 7): Two dramatic wins in a row over Winnipeg and Hamilton. After a bye, the Als have three home games in a row – last-place Ottawa, Rourke-less B.C. and Hamilton.

5. Toronto Argonauts (4-5, Last week: 4): The Argos have been first in the East all season, but a loss to the Ticats would put that spot in danger heading into the Labour Day Classic in the Hammer.

6. Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-5, Last week: 6): Quarterbacking concerns continue. Big-time pressure to beat B.C. without Rourke as the Labour Day home-and-home with Winnipeg looms.

7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-7, Last week: 7): Yet another late letdown in a loss in Montreal. The Ticats are 0-5 on the road heading into Toronto on Friday.

8. Edmonton Elks (3-7, Last week: 9): Need a home-and-home sweep of Ottawa to have a shot of making a second-half push for a playoff spot.

9. Ottawa Redblacks (1-8, Last week: 8): Yet another pitiful performance at home in a loss to Edmonton. LaPolice’s job security has been a hot topic in the Ottawa media.