The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will shoot for their first road victory of the season Friday night and expect to have Dane Evans back at quarterback against the host Toronto Argonauts.
The Tiger-Cats (3-7) and the Argonauts (4-5) have split their first two meetings this season with the home team prevailing each time. They meet again Sept. 5 at Hamilton.
Evans (shoulder) last played in the 34-20 loss to the Argonauts on Aug. 6, going 29-for-43 passing for 303 yards.
Matthew Shiltz started Hamilton’s 34-27 win over Toronto on Aug. 12 and the 29-28 loss to the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday that dropped Hamilton’s road record to 0-5. Evans was in uniform, but did not play.
According to the team’s depth chart, Evans is listed as the No. 1 quarterback against Toronto.
The Tiger-Cats are coming off a tough loss. After Seth Small’s 51-yard field goal gave them the lead with 42 seconds left in the game, Montreal won on David Cote’s 48-yard field goal as time expired.
“It’s just tough, it was one of those games,” Tiger-Cats coach Orlondo Steinauer said. “We had an opportunity to hold them there. I’m proud of the way we battled but we had opportunities, I believe, but in all three phases and ultimately down on defense to hold them to at least a longer opportunity and it didn’t happen.”
Toronto was held to three points in the second half in losing 22-19 to the visiting Calgary Stampeders on Saturday.
“The first half, I thought we did some good things,” Argonauts coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. “In the second half, they just came in and played aggressive on us and played man coverage. We didn’t complete balls we should have completed. We had some mistakes from the quarterback position.”
Toronto defensive lineman Ja’Gared Davis (knee) is ruled for out Friday. Offensive lineman Dejon Allen (back) and receiver Tommy Nield (ankle) are listed as questionable.
Hamilton defensive back Ciante Evans (hand) and linebacker Simoni Lawrence (knee) are listed as out. Defensive lineman Dylan Wynn (knee) remains questionable.
–Field Level Media