Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly is expected to start when the team celebrates its 150th anniversary Friday night against the visiting Edmonton Elks.
Kelly sat out the Argos’ 31-21 loss to the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers in last Friday’s rematch of the 2022 Grey Cup won by Toronto.
With Kelly resting last week, Cameron Dukes made his first start and finished 17-for-24 passing for 231 yards and a touchdown.
“That was great to see Cam get in this environment and do that,” Toronto coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. “That was kind of the point of resting Chad, but also seeing what we’ve got. We wanted to win it and we thought we could with our backup (but) we just didn’t make enough plays.”
Kelly has thrown for 3,396 yards and 21 touchdowns this season.
The Argonauts also expect to have defensive lineman Shawn Oakman and linebacker Wynton McManis back in the lineup.
While the Argonauts (12-2) have clinched first place in the East Division, the Elks (4-11) are tied for fourth with the Calgary Stampeders in the West and still trying for a playoff spot.
The Elks were idle last week after their offense showed some improvement in a 37-29 home loss to the B.C. Lions on Sept. 22.
“We got outplayed in all three phases. I thought, offensively, defensively and in the kicking game they beat us in this game,” Elks coach Chris Jones said. “We’re closer than maybe what we were, but you don’t get consolation prizes for losing the football game.”
Elks quarterback Tre Ford completed 20 of 27 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions.
“Even though I still thought we didn’t execute to the level we wanted to, it was definitely a step forward,” Ford said.
The Elks will be without linebacker Nyles Morgan (hamstring), defensive back Marcus Lewis (calf) and defensive linemen Sam Acheampong (groin), J-Min Pelley (appendicitis) and Daniel Ross (elbow).
Toronto will be without wide receiver Cam Phillips (groin) and defensive backs DaShaun Amos (ankle), Josh Hagerty (shoulder) and Jamal Peters (groin).
The Argonauts defeated the Elks 43-31 at Edmonton on June 25.
–Field Level Media
