QB Kelly out again as Arbuckle starts third straight game for banged-up Argos
Chad Kelly will have plenty of company on the Toronto Argonauts sideline Friday night.
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Kelly will miss a third straight start when Toronto (0-2) hosts the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-0). The 2023 CFL outstanding player continues to recover from a leg injury suffered in last year's East Division final.
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Ditto for receiver/returner Janarion Grant (ankle), the 2024 CFL top special teams player last season, who also has yet to play this year.
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Joining them among Toronto's walking wounded will be linebackers Wynton McManis (knee) and Jack Cassar (adductor), running back Deonta McMahon (ankle), receiver DaVaris Daniels (hip), defensive lineman Demarcus Christmas (Achilles) and offensive linemen Sage Doxtater (knee), Dylan Giffen (back) and Darius Ciraco (foot).
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On Thursday, Toronto re-signed Canadian fullback Brandon Calver, who spent the last four seasons with the club. He'll start on offence Friday and also play special teams.
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Still, it's hardly an ideal scenario for a Toronto team looking to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2019.
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'Sometimes the injury bug hits you but we have no excuses,' said Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. 'It's next man up.
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'It's professional sports … you have to find a way to overcome it.'
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Saskatchewan receiver Sam Emilus (foot) won't play but Canadian running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon returns to back up former Argo A.J. Ouellette. Sophomore receiver Joe Robustelli is also back and starts.
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Ka'Deem Carey won't face his former team. Carey, who ran for 1,060 yards last year in helping Toronto win the Grey Cup, joined Saskatchewan after being among the Argos' final cuts but won't dress Friday.
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Jake Herslow starts at slotback for Toronto while Canadian Ryan Hunter, the CFL's top lineman last year, moves from right tackle to left guard. American Hampton Ergle starts at tackle.
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'He (Williams) showed his physicality breaking through some tackles and getting to the second level,' Dinwiddie said. 'I think he's used to the U.S. game where it's more downhill but you've got to be a bit more patient (in the CFL) and set up some blocks and I think he's getting there.'
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