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Former Grey Cup MVP set to step in for injured quarterback
Nick Arbuckle will celebrate yet another birthday playing football at BMO Field. The veteran quarterback will be the starter when the Toronto Argonauts host the B.C.
Lions on Saturday afternoon. Arbuckle will replace Chad Kelly, who is out with an injured right hand. Arbuckle turns 33 on Saturday and for a second straight season will spend part of his birthday taking snaps at Exhibition Place. But Arbuckle is looking for a different result as last year he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Toronto’s 47-29 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“It’s cool that my last start … was Oct. 4 here on my birthday,” Arbuckle said Friday. “Three-hundred and sixty-four days later, we’re back. “Not the same result, but it’s cool one year apart from the last start to the first start this season. ” Kelly, 32, had started all of Toronto’s games to this point.
He enters action this week leading the CFL in passing yards , touchdowns and interceptions . Toronto also leads the league in passing yards , 30-plus yard completions and TDs while standing third in net offence . But Toronto head coach Mike Miller said the Argos’ offence won’t skip a beat Saturday.
“These guys rep all the time and our system is in place,” Miller said. “There might be a couple plays here or there that are already on the list that Nick might have a different preference for. “Other than that, the system is in and we run our offence. ” Arbuckle certainly brings experience to the field.
The six-foot, 213-pound American is in his ninth CFL season and third with Toronto. Last season he made 15 regular-season starts for the Argos. Arbuckle has also made 40 career CFL starts and in ’24 replaced an injured Kelly in the East Division final, leading Toronto past Montreal 30-28. The following week, Arbuckle was named the MVP of the Argos’ 41-24 Grey Cup victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Toronto and B.C. will meet for the second time this season as the Argos earned a 26-12 road victory Aug. 23. Arbuckle saw action in that contest, completing 13-of-20 passes for 134 yards in relief of Kelly while rushing twice for 28 yards. But on Saturday, B.C. will have starter Nathan Rourke under centre. He missed the first meeting.
Arbuckle also has an extensive history with Mike Benevides, B.C. ’s veteran defensive co-ordinator. Arbuckle and Benevides have crossed paths at different points during their CFL tenures, both as opponents and as teammates.
“I’d say he’s up there with the most scheme-heavy defensive co-ordinators out there,” Arbuckle said. “He always comes out with a new wrinkle, new blitzes, new coverages almost every week and he’s very game-play centric for the offence he’s facing. “You’ve got to be ready to see new things and have new answers, answers for things you haven’t repped against. He keeps you on your toes; it’s always a tough battle when the time comes to face him.
” Toronto will chase a fifth straight win and look to improve to 5-0 at BMO Field. The Argos have also clinched a home playoff date. B.C. has won its last two games and seven-of-eight overall. The Lions also hold down second in the West Division, just ahead of the Saskatchewan Roughriders , Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Calgary Stampeders .
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