Week 6 of the 2023 season had to be one of the best weeks for the CFL in recent memory.
A look back and forward in this edition of the column:
As entertaining as the week was — two Saturday games decided on the final play after an enjoyable Montreal Alouettes-Toronto Argonauts Friday night clash — the league's oft-criticized quarterback class took two more hits.
On July 13, Hamilton Tiger-Cats QB Matthew Shiltz suffered an apparent leg injury against the Edmonton Elks and is now on the six-game injured list, joining starter Bo Levi Mitchell.
That means rookie Taylor Powell gets the start Friday at home against the visiting Argos.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan Roughriders QB Trevor Harris had surgery this week after suffering a tibial plateau fracture of his right knee Saturday against the Calgary Stampeders. Such a shame after the veteran started the season so well. The team is still hopeful Harris will return for the end of the season.
Mason Fine will start Saturday in B.C. against the Lions.
The Roughriders will become the fourth team this season to start someone other than their opening-day QB.
Things looked bleak for the Ottawa Redblacks after starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 5 in his first game back after a year out with a leg injury.
Unheralded rookie Dustin Crum started in Week 6 against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers, becoming the team's fourth starting QB already this season.
All Crum did was lead the Redblacks back from an 18-3 deficit, scoring on a 12-yard run and then adding a two-point convert toss to tie it on the final play of regulation.
Then, after the Bombers opened overtime with a field goal, Crum made a beautiful move to elude a Bomber defender and scored on a 29-yard TD run for a badly needed walk-off win.
Crum played college football at Kent State in the Mid-American Conference, the same conference where former Lions star QB Nathan Rourke suited up for Ohio.
They squared off in 2019, with Rourke's Bobcats beating Crum's Golden Flashes 45-38 in a thriller.
Calgary Stampeders QB Jake Maier didn't have a great start to the season, after being the team's opening-day starter for the first time.
He answered plenty of questions in Regina on Saturday, completing 26 of 37 passes for 315 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
It was a wild game, with the clutch Rene Paredes kicking the winning 50-yard field goal on the final play of regulation less than a minute after Tevin Jones' miracle touchdown reception from Fine.
The return of top receiver Kenny Lawler on July 13 against the Edmonton Elks should help a Blue Bombers team that is battling for inconsistency.
A legal situation from an impaired driving charge has been resolved, allowing Lawler to make his season debut.
Lawler rejoined the Bombers this off-season after spending last year in Edmonton. He helped Winnipeg win Grey Cups in 2019 and '21.
1. Toronto Argonauts (4-0, 1st last week): First-year starting QB Chad Kelly the early favourite for most outstanding player.
2. B.C. Lions (4-1, 2nd last week): Big crowd expected for Saturday home date with Saskatchewan.
3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-2, 3rd last week): Rare collapse down the stretch against a heavy underdog in Ottawa.
4. Calgary Stampeders (2-3, 6th last week): Barely avoided heartbreaking loss in Saskatchewan, but performance as a whole was much improved.
5. Montreal Alouettes (2-3, 5th last week): Went punch for punch with the Argos, but have lost three in a row.
6. Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-2, 4th last week): Loss of Harris looms large.
7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-3, 7th last week): Have won two in a row, but competition gets much tougher this week.
8. Ottawa Redblacks (2-3, 8th last week): Right in the East playoff race after improbable win over Winnipeg.
9. Edmonton Elks (0-6, 9th last week): There is good news. The team won't extend its North American pro sports record 20-game home losing streak this week.
Edmonton Elks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-14.5), Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT: The Elks aren't good, but they've lost their past two games by a combined nine points. Awfully big spread. PICK: Edmonton
Toronto Argonauts (-8.5) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT: Powell makes his starting debut in a rivalry game against the league's best team. Tough task. PICK: Toronto
Saskatchewan Roughriders at B.C. Lions (-10.5), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT: Lions coming off the bye week and facing an inexperienced quarterback in Fine. PICK: B.C.
Ottawa Redblacks at Calgary Stampeders (-4.5), Sunday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT: Crum vs. Maier is a fun QB matchup after last week. PICK: Calgary
Lines from FanDuel as of Wednesday night.
2023 Picks Record: 11-11.
COMMENTS
When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.