EDMONTON — Will the sixth time be the charm for the Toronto Argonauts?
The Argos are looking for their first win of the season Thursday night when they match up against the Esks at the Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium. Toronto is the only Canadian Football League without a victory this season, and they’re 1-14 over their last 15 games.
“Can’t imagine a harder start to a season,” said Argonauts quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson in an interview with Argonauts.ca “But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and we have to believe that. We know we have the men in this locker room. We know we have the right man leading us. And we believe that we will work our way out of this.”
» Depth Charts: TOR | EDM
On paper, it looks as if the Argos will be in tough against the Green and Gold. Toronto has the league’s worst offence (15 offensive points per game), defence (37.6 points allowed), and the worst turnover ratio (-13). They’ll also be up against the leading passer in the league in Trevor Harris, who’s thrown for a league-leading 1,633 yards to go with eight touchdown passes and two interceptions.
But despite a 10-point loss in Calgary, the Argos showed they won’t go down without a fight this season. The Boatmen moved the ball all game and even edged the Stampeders in yards 410-244, but seven turnovers — including a fumble returned for a touchdown — were their undoing.
Is Thursday night’s game a “trap game?” Don’t tell that to Head Coach Jason Maas.
“I don’t believe in trap games.” Maas said. “It doesn’t matter what anybody’s record is. Whoever comes into this building has to leave with a loss.”
Edmonton will be without the league’s second-best running back in terms of yards, C.J. Gable, who was placed on the one-game injured list. He’ll be replaced by promising young sophomore Shaq Cooper, who recently came off the six-game injured list. Receiver DaVaris Daniels will also be sidelined. Daniels has played just two games this season, making 10 catches for 85 yards after signing as a free agent.
Canadian receivers Tevaun Smith and Natey Adjei will start in his absence, while Kenny Stafford moves over from his field wideout spot to the boundary.
The short week could play against the Eskimos, who will play their second game in five days, and third in nearly two weeks. Quarterback Trevor Harris is raring to get back in the saddle for Edmonton, coming off a 20-10 loss to the Montreal Alouettes last weekend.
“Whenever you come up short and don’t play as well as you want to, it’s always good to get back on the horse,” Harris said
Argonauts receiver Derel Walker makes his return to Edmonton Thursday night. The 28-year old was signed by the Argonauts to a lucrative contract this past off-season. In his first season with Toronto, Walker has 23 catches and two touchdowns in five games.
“We’re coming here to get our first win of the year,” Walker said. “I’m playing a former team so I’m just looking forward to it. I’m just going to go out there, enjoy it, and have fun.
“Coming back here, I have so many friends. Played with a lot of teammates so it’ll be nice to see them guys. But at the end of the day, it’s business.”
With an extra Canadian receiver in the lineup, the Eskimos bring international guard Travis Bond into the lineup ahead of rookie Kyle Saxelid. The Eskimos will be without Forrest Hightower on the defensive side of the ball.
Defensive back Nick Taylor and Manitoba alum and wide receiver Shai Ross will enter the lineup for Edmonton.
The Argos also have their share of injuries. They will be without a star running back of their own in James Wilder Jr., while slotback Armanti Edwards will also miss the game and has been placed on the one-game injured list.
Sophomore running back Branden Burks gets the start in Wilder’s place, while shifty receiver Chandler Worthymoves into the starting lineup at receiver. Finally, tackle Isiah Cage will sit out Thursday’s game in favour of Roubbens Joseph, who will make his first career CFL start at left tackle.
BY THE NUMBERS
14 — Argonauts head coach Corey Chamblin has lost 14 straight games as a head coach, dating back to 2015 when he lost nine games in a row as head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
0-6 — If Toronto loses Thursday night, the Argonauts will be 0-6 for the first time since 1981.
6 — Thursday night’s game will be former Argo Trevor Harris’s sixth career start against his Toronto. He is 2-3 in games against the Double Blue.
34 — Edmonton last played a home game in the second week of the season. It’s been 34 days. The Esks played three games and had a bye week in that span of time.
– With files from Esks.com/Argonauts.ca
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