CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO -- The Toronto Argonauts announced Tuesday afternoon that QB Jarious Jackson will get the start under centre in place of an injured Ricky Ray when they travel to Winnipeg to take on the Blue Bombers Saturday night.

Jackson completed 15 of 31 passes for 198 yards and threw one interception in relief of Ray last weekend after the Argos' starting pivot went down with a knee injury. 

Ray had completed just 3 of 4 passes for 30 yards before leaving the contest.  His injury is being defined as a strained MCL.

The 32-year-old underwent an MRI Monday, but the Argonauts did not disclose the degree of Ray’s sprain.

“I’m not a doctor, but all I know is his knee is sore and we’re going to take care of [Ray] and what is in his best interest in the long term,” Milanvovich said Tuesday. “Ricky said he has had something similar in the past, and that he healed quickly. All we are worried about is this week. Jarious is going to do a good job.”

Fortunately for Toronto, Ray won't require surgery. Argos head coach Scott Milanovich hopes to have his starter back in the lineup Oct. 8 when Toronto hosts the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

"This is why we brought (Jackson) here, for this type of situation exactly,'' Milanovich said. "The positive thing is he basically played an entire game last week.

"It would've been tougher on Jarious had this happened to Ricky late in the fourth quarter. He got a whole game's worth of snaps and we kept him in for one extra series just so he could get some no-huddle and get some experience in a three-minute type of drill. He's locked in (Tuesday) like it's gameday so I expect him to do well.''

Jackson joined the Argos in the off-season after being released by the BC Lions where he spent seven seasons, passing for more than 7,000 yards and rushing for over 1,000 yards. This will be Jackson's first start with the Boatmen but the 23rd of his career.

“Jarious has different skills; he has a stronger arm, and he is a different type of leader that I think our guys will respond to,” Milanovich said. “Ricky is a lead-by-example kind of guy. Jarious is just more vocal.”

- With files from Argonauts.ca