TORONTO — Ricky Ray could be back at the helm of the Toronto Argonauts offence.
Ray has been sidelined since Labour Day with a rib injury and since, his club has won just one contest.
Although head coach Scott Milanovich didn’t outright confirm Ray will start it is presumed he will given his participation in practice and a potential shoulder injury the Argos have learned is hampering Drew Willy.
“Drew had a little bit of an injury in his throwing shoulder prior to the Calgary game,” Milanovich told reporters Monday. “(Willy) re-injured it in the middle of the (last) game so he is going to be down this week.
“Everyone has different strengths. Dan (LeFevour) is a great playmaker and Drew has great arm talent. Ricky is phenomenally accurate and he knows the offence so well.”
Just before heading to the injured list, Ray was coming off what was likely his best performance of the season, going 31 for 41 for 386 yards passing and 3 TDs in a loss to Hamilton.
“I feel like physically I don’t have anything hindering me,” Ray said who enters Friday’s game with 1,834 yards and 13 touchdown passes on the year.
Despite earning a victory the following week with Dan LeFevour under centre, the Argos traded DB TJ Heath, a first and a third round Draft pick for QB Willy.
Willy has struggled mightily in three starts with the Boatmen, going 0-3 and passing for 528 yards. In Toronto’s most recent loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Willy passed for 87 yards in three quarters before being replaced by LeFevour.
Despite their recent slide, the Argonauts are still in a position to make the post-season by winning out and getting some help from Hamilton Ticat opponents.
The Argos close out the regular season in Calgary this week, followed by Edmonton the week after.
