Toronto will open defense of its Grey Cup championship Sunday night against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats with Chad Kelly beginning his first full season as the Argonauts’ starting quarterback.
Toronto did not play in the opening week of the season while Hamilton lost 42-31 on June 9 to the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Kelly, 29, nephew of former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, was Toronto’s backup last season behind McLeod Bethel-Thompson, now with the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers.
Kelly played an important role in Toronto’s 24-23 Grey Cup win over Winnipeg in November. He replaced Bethel-Thompson (dislocated right thumb) in the fourth quarter and was 4-for-6 passing for 43 yards. Kelly’s 20-yard run set up A.J. Ouellette’s game-winning 5-yard touchdown run.
Kelly made one start last season and will enter this season as a starter for the first time as a professional.
“It definitely feels different but trusting the guys around me to make plays, that’s what my job is,” Kelly said. “My job is to get them the ball and keep us in second-and-manageable (situations) each and every time we step onto the field.”
Argonauts coach Ryan Dinwiddie said Kelly doesn’t have to be “amazing” for the team to win. “He just has to do the little things right, take care of the football and let the game come to him,” Dinwiddie said.
Toronto is the only one of the nine CFL teams that has yet to play a game.
“They’ve had lots of time to prepare for us,” Hamilton coach Orlondo Steinauer said. “It poses a bit of a challenge but it’s nothing we’re focusing on. We focus on what we can do.”
The Tiger-Cats fell behind 30-4 at Winnipeg before their quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell got a feel for his receivers.
A key for the Argos on Sunday could be how Kelly handles his new role.
“Sometimes when you’re given the keys you can drive the car real well,” Steinauer said. “I think for every story that hasn’t worked out, there’s one that has. I think you’ve got a competitive guy down there who understands and he’s not brand new. He’s very confident.”
Hamilton will be without wide receiver Omar Bayless (shoulder) and offensive linemen Kyle Saxelid (knee) and Tyrone Riley (elbow) on Sunday.
Toronto will be without wide receiver Markeith Ambles (ankle), linebacker Henoc Muamba (knee) and offensive linemen Shane Richards (ankle) and Trevon Tate (knee).
–Field Level Media