Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca
TORONTO — James Franklin will make his Argos debut under centre against his former club when Toronto opens up a home-and-home with the Edmonton Eskimos starting next Saturday 7 at BMO Field. The Argonauts announced Franklin will be their starting quarterback now that Ricky Ray is out.
In what some predicted as a formality, head coach Marc Trestman said turning to Franklin was a “figurative coin flip” between he and McLeod Bethel-Thompson, according to Matthew Scianitti of TSN.
Marc Trestman names James Franklin his starter for Week 4 vs #Eskimos. Coach calls it a “figurative coin flip” between picking Franklin or Mcleod Bethel-Thompson.Trestman also says Ricky Ray-seen wearing a neck brace-needs a month before his 2018 availability can be assessed #CFL
— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) July 2, 2018
Franklin battled in camp with Bethel-Thompson with each starting a pre-season game. Depth at the quarterback position was a priority for Toronto this past off-season given Ray’s age and history with injuries.
Ray’s injury is indeed long-term but the Argonauts have yet to formally rule him out for the season. According to Scianitti, Trestman said that Ray’s status will be assessed after he wears a neck brace for at least a month.
The 38-year-old Ray took a hit from defensive lineman Cordarro Law while being sacked by defensive lineman Ja’Gared Davis and had to be carted off the field on a stretcher. Ray was was 12 of 17 for 74 yards before suffering the injury.
