The Boat's Big Engine is Back: Why Chad Kelly Changes Everything
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HANK MORROW OPINION: With their star QB returning to the lineup, the Argonauts finally have the offensive spark needed to ignite a late-season surge.
Let's be honest: the Toronto Argonauts have been drifting. Sitting at 3-4, this season has felt more like a struggle for buoyancy than a championship campaign. But as we prepare for Thursday night's clash against the Calgary Stampeders, the tide is finally turning.
In my opinion, the return of quarterback Chad Kelly is the single most important development for this club. According to reporting from Sportsnet and Global News Toronto, the 32-year-old signal-caller is available to play after suffering a neck injury during a 26-12 victory over the B.C. Lions on July 25. After a bye week and returning as a full participant in practice this past Sunday, Kelly is back under center.
For a team trying to claw its way back into the playoff conversation, Kelly isn't just a roster addition—he is the engine. When you have a quarterback of his caliber, the entire geometry of the field changes. The offense gains a level of firepower and confidence that simply isn't there when you're playing the injury game.
It isn't just the offense getting a boost. Global News Toronto and Sportsnet both report that Canadian linebacker Cameron Judge is also available for the first time in three games after dealing with a hamstring injury. Having both Kelly and Judge back as full participants in practice gives the Argos a critical infusion of talent on both sides of the ball just as they make their BMO Field debut of the season.
Now, it isn't all sunshine and rainbows. The special teams unit is taking a hit; both Canadian kicker Lirim Hajrullahu and global punter John Haggerty are ruled out due to hamstring injuries, per Sportsnet. That puts pressure on the rest of the squad to execute perfectly, especially since the Calgary Stampeders arrive in town with a clean bill of health and no players on their injured list, according to Global News Toronto.
Calgary is coming off a dominant 44-20 road win over Hamilton and currently sits at 4-4. They are a dangerous team, but they are facing a Toronto squad that is finally getting its best weapons back on the grass.
If the Argonauts are going to turn this season around and make a genuine push for the postseason, it starts Thursday. With Chad Kelly leading the charge, the Boat finally has the firepower to stop drifting and start driving. It's time to see what this team can really do.