Tre Ford has bounced between starting quarterback and backup for all five of his CFL seasons.
On Saturday, the dynamic Canadian just might get another chance to grab hold of a No. 1 job with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in what should be a fantastic environment.
Coming off a comeback win in relief of an injured Harrison Frost against the reigning Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders, Ford got starter's reps in the first two days of practice ahead of this weekend's crucial CNE game against the Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field.
Frost (back) was listed as limited to open the week and has not been ruled out. But with Ford having guided the Ticats to an exciting win over the Argos earlier this season in Hamilton and riding the momentum of last week's big victory, it feels likely he'll be a key part of Saturday's battle for second place in the CFL East.
"Certainly none of us were surprised to see Tre rise to the occasion," Ticats assistant head coach Bob Dyce told reporters in Hamilton earlier this week. "Tre is a fantastic quarterback and it's a testament to his mental fortitude and his strength and his belief in himself. And his teammates believe in him."
The Ticats have used three starting quarterbacks — Jake Dolegala, Ford and Frost — since star QB Bo Levi Mitchell suffered an ankle injury last month.
Ford, a native of Niagara Falls, Ont., won his starting debut for the Ticats before dropping his next two games and being replaced by Frost.
A first-round pick by Edmonton in 2022 after winning the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in U Sports with the Waterloo Warriors, Ford went 10-13 for the Elks as a starter before signing with the Ticats this past off-season.
The six-foot, 192-pound Ford is as fast as any QB in pro football, and his legs are a major weapon. It's his arm that has been questioned at times, but he seems to thrive when he gets out of the pocket.
Such was the case last week when he rolled to his right and fired a deep ball, while he was about to get hit, to Keric Wheatfall, who made a leaping, highlight-reel haul to spark the comeback.
Ford finished 13-of-17 for 151 yards and one TD, while adding 38 rushing yards.
"Tre can throw the ball, especially when he gets out of the pocket," Wheatfall said. "I feel like he's definitely most dangerous when he's out of the pocket scrambling. I feel like his arm somehow is way stronger when he's out of the pocket. That's the thing with Tre. We love Tre."
The Ticats can clinch the season series and own the all-important tiebreaker against the Argos with a win on Saturday or on Labour Day in their annual showdown in Hamilton.
Hamilton was rolling before Mitchell suffered his injury. But the team has left the door open to the East's top player the past two years making a return near the end of the season.
Mitchell revealed on social media this week that he was able to remove his walking boot and put full weight on his injured leg.
If Ford can help the Ticats stay afloat, perhaps Mitchell can lead the team on a playoff drive.
That's a long way down the road, though. For now, it's all about beating a fierce rival.
"We're thinking of this as a playoff game," Ticats defensive back Quavian White said. "It's super important."
Elks on the rise
Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea took a big-picture view when asked about the play of his team's next opponent, the Elks.
The longtime CFL powerhouse has been in rough shape on and off the field since the league returned from its COVID-19 hiatus in 2021. But things have changed this season, with the Elks on top of the West at 7-3 heading into Friday's game against the visiting Blue Bombers.
O'Shea was full of praise for fellow Canadian head coach Mark Kilam, a longtime assistant with the Calgary Stampeders before getting Edmonton's top job last year.
When asked what it was like to play in near-empty Commonwealth Stadium in recent years, O'Shea said, "Troublesome, honestly.
"We'd play there and it just didn't feel like it should. It's been turned around and it's good for our league. I can separate the two. I know what we want to do on game day, but I also can appreciate they've worked their (butts) off to turn it around there. And I can be happy for a fellow coach who I've been around and been to a ton of meetings with and hung around and had beers with. ... Doesn't mean we don't want to beat him. It's just I understand the value and the importance of the health of franchises to the health of the league. It's pretty apparent we need every team to be going."
Tough times in Ottawa
While the Elks have reversed their fortunes, the league's other longstanding bottom-feeder remains in the basement.
The Ottawa Redblacks are 0-9 and have a whopping 17 players on the six-game injured list heading into Thursday's road game against the league-best Montreal Alouettes.
A loss would mark Ottawa's 16th straight defeat, which would tie the Redblacks with the 1948-49 Hamilton Wildcats for second-longest losing streak in Canadian football history at the top level.
Adrian Sciarra stepped down as Redblacks president this week, with team ownership saying it will look for a new football leader before the end of the season. New head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie did get a vote of confidence from Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group president and CEO Mark Goudie, but vice president of football operations Shawn Burke seems to be twisting in the wind.
In the meantime, the Redblacks will try to pull off the biggest upset of the CFL season.
"We're going to continue to keep fighting," Dinwiddie said. "I just told guys (to) play for the love of the game. We get paid to do this, we're judged off wins and losses. But they've got to find that inner child that loves to go out to practice, loves to go out and compete, and loves to be around the guys."
Week 12 schedule
Ottawa Redblacks (0-9) at Montreal Alouettes (8-1), Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET
The high-flying Als have won 13 games in a row against their closest geographic rival.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5-4) at Edmonton Elks (7-3), Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. MT
The Elks are 4-1 at Commonwealth Stadium this year, while the Blue Bombers are 3-0 on the road.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-6) at Toronto Argonauts (4-5), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET
Argos quarterback Chad Kelly has thrown a league-high 14 interceptions this year. He faces an impressive Hamilton defence that is second in yards allowed.
Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-3) at B.C. Lions (4-5), Sunday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
The Lions have won three in a row after a 1-5 start. Bruising running back Zander Horvath has averaged 118 yards per game during the win streak.
