Injuries are part of football, but ideally they don't define a league's season.
Unfortunately for the CFL, the early part of the schedule has been dominated by injuries to men playing the most important position on the field — quarterback.
By the end of this fourth week of play, it's possible six of the nine teams will be starting at least their second quarterback of the season. Just one of those six teams had to make a switch for a reason other than injury — Winnipeg Blue Bombers star Zach Collaros was suspended for the opener after failing to make himself available for an off-season drug test.
This week, Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris didn't practise the first two days, with the team confirming there was a head-injury concern following a hit from Toronto Argonauts defensive tackle Jordan Williams late in last week's Riders win. He did return to practice on Thursday, raising hopes he could play Saturday against the visiting Lions
“Yeah, it was a big hit, so we did keep eyes on that. Protecting the players is kind of just what we’re about here in that situation,” Roughriders coach Corey Mace told reporters, per 3 Down Nation, on Wednesday. “But also, like I said, he is dealing with some kind of infection. From (the concussion) standpoint, yeah, we’re being careful.”
The potential loss of Harris would not be ideal for a Roughriders team that is off to a 3-0 start. Former Calgary Stampeders quarterback Jake Maier would be in line to start Saturday against the visiting B.C. Lions if Harris can't go.
The Lions, meanwhile, are waiting to see if Nathan Rourke can play after he missed last week's loss to the Blue Bombers with an oblique injury. Jeremiah Masoli started in what was a fairly one-sided game.
"The hope is to play. The hope was to play last week, too," Rourke, who was limited in practice the first two days this week, told reporters.
"But I think at the end of the day, you've got to make a decision of what's best for the team. Me, trying to go out there and Brett Favre it sometimes isn't what's best for the team. We've got a very capable quarterback in Jeremiah and I want to make sure I'm the best option for the team if I'm going to put myself in there."
Out east, the Ottawa Redblacks have had three quarterbacks in as many games — starter Dru Brown suffered a hip injury in the season opener before Matt Shiltz started Game 2 and Dustin Crum went last week.
Crum did enough for Ottawa to win its first of the season last week on a miserable day in Calgary, but there's no doubt Brown gives the Redblacks the best chance to win on Sunday against visiting Toronto. It was Crum taking first-team reps to start the practice week, though.
"We're just going to go day by day and see how things progress," Redblacks coach Bob Dyce told reporters.
The same likely is true for the Argos. Coach Ryan Dinwiddie said last week he hoped star quarterback Chad Kelly could make his season debut in Ottawa after fracturing his leg in last year's playoffs.
Kelly was limited on the first day of the practice week. Nick Arbuckle has started all three games for the defending Grey Cup champs, who are off to a league-worst 0-3 start.
Meanwhile, impressive Alouettes first-year starter Davis Alexander exited late in last week's win over Edmonton with a hamstring injury and will be out for Friday's road game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson gets the start for Montreal.
Tre Ford of the Edmonton Elks, Vernon Adams Jr. of the Calgary Stampeders and Bo Levi Mitchell of the Ticats, who have a combined record of 2-5, are the lone starting quarterbacks who have been available all season.
This is not the storyline the league wanted in Week 4.
Familiar story
The Elks and the Ticats (0-2) just can't seem to start seasons off with success.
Not since before the pandemic has either team avoided a multi-game losing streak to open a campaign.
Last year, the Ticats started 0-5, while the Elks were worse at 0-7.
It won't be easy to reverse their fortunes this week. The Elks are in Winnipeg and will play in front of what could be a sellout Thursday, while the Tiger-Cats entertain the East-leading Alouettes the following night.
"It feels like we're close and we just need to get over the hump against a good team," Ticats coach Scott Milanovich told reporters this week.
"When you play a good team and you find a way to win, I think it can jump start your season. The confidence just swells. When you're 0-2 there may or may not be, depending on the player, question marks about how the rest of the season's going to go."
Argo bounce?
It will be interesting to see how the Argos react in the aftermath of coach Ryan Dinwiddie's impassioned rant following last week's heartbreaking loss to Saskatchewan.
The Argos had only 11 men on the field for Mario Alford's game-winning kickoff return in the dying seconds and committed 11 penalties for 129 yards.
In Dinwiddie's previous four years with the squad, the Argos had not lost one season opener.
Now, they're threatening to fall into a deep hole. Perhaps that's why Dinwiddie let the Argos have it when talking to reporters after last week's game.
"I’ve never really got after those guys, this is the first time I’ve had to after a game. Pretty embarrassed by it. I thought it was selfish play, selfish penalties,” Dinwiddie said. “I told those guys, ‘Someone’s going home tomorrow.’ Heads are rolling. I ain’t putting up with that stuff no more."
"I think that might open up some eyes. We gotta come and do the work. These guys are getting paid, this is their job. They need to come here with some purpose. It’s coaches as well. It’s not a good atmosphere right now. We’ll get it fixed. We’re men and we’re pros, we get paid to do this, but I’m not happy right now."
The Argos have not made major roster changes so far this week, but some jobs won't stay secure if things don't turn around soon.
Week 4 schedule
Thursday, June 26: Edmonton Elks (0-2) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-0), 8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. CDT
Friday, June 27: Montreal Alouettes (3-0) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-2), 7:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, June 28: B.C. Lions (1-2) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-0), 7 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CST
Sunday, June 29: Toronto Argonauts (0-3) at Ottawa Redblacks (1-2), 7 p.m. ET
Bye: Calgary Stampeders (2-1)
