The Canadian Press
The CFL.ca Quarterback Index is a weekly power ranking of quarterbacks across the CFL. The ranking reflects recent performance, historical value, statistical indicators, team success and overall on-field evaluation.
TORONTO — The upper class of Canadian Football League quarterbacks is easily-defined.
Bo Levi Mitchell and Mike Reilly will continue to go back and forth at the top, while Jeremiah Masoli has etched his name into the top three with his play over 14 starts dating back to Labour Day.
It’s after that where things get a little complicated: the middle tier.
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While Matt Nichols and Trevor Harris have spent some time teetering on the status of elite, they’re now joined by two newcomers in Travis Lulay and James Franklin.
Lulay, of course, isn’t ‘new’ but is back after a 10-month absence, while Franklin has graduated from his title of top quarterback prospect in the CFL to regular starter with Ricky Ray sidelined.
With plenty of movement, particularly between spots five through seven, CFL.ca ranks the pivots going into Week 6.
BO LEVI MITCHELL CGY
THIS WEEK: 1 | LAST WEEK: 1
It doesn’t look like Bo Levi Mitchell will miss any more time after leaving Calgary’s Week 5 win before halftime with a knee injury. Mitchell was back in full equipment for Monday’s practice and should have a good chance to play Saturday vs. Montreal. The Stamps’ quarterback became the fastest in league history to reach 60 wins and is off to a torrid start in 2018.
MIKE REILLY EDM
THIS WEEK: 2 | LAST WEEK: 2
Heavy rain and some uncharacteristic drops hindered Mike Reilly’s line in Week 5, but the reigning Most Outstanding Player threw two touchdown passes to help the Eskimos earn a narrow one-point win over the Argos. With six interceptions, Reilly is on pace for a career-high in that category, but he leads the CFL in passing yards (1,648) and touchdowns (9) while his offence leads the league with 2,113 net yards.
JEREMIAH MASOLI HAM
THIS WEEK: 3 | LAST WEEK: 3
Jeremiah Masoli can etch his name in the CFL record book on Thursday night by throwing for 300-plus yards for the 10th consecutive game. The Ticats’ quarterback continues to produce at an elite level, although his team’s inability to finish both drives and football games has proven costly. Masoli is sure to improve on a touchdown to interception ratio of 4:4.
MATT NICHOLS WPG
THIS WEEK: 4 | LAST WEEK: 4
Matt Nichols struggled in his second game back from injury, throwing three interceptions as his team surrendered a 17-point lead to lose to BC. Despite some flashes of brilliance from Chris Streveler, Nichols’ job is safe at the moment, but the Bombers’ pivot needs to turn it around to avoid falling out of the race in the highly-competitive West Division.
JAMES FRANKLIN TOR
THIS WEEK: 5 | LAST WEEK: 6
In just his fifth career start, James Franklin threw the ball well in the rain, even piling up more yardage and a better completion percentage than his mentor-turned-counterpart Mike Reilly. A home-and-home against his former team, the Edmonton Eskimos, ends up being a split, but so far Franklin looks every bit the part of a franchise quarterback in the three-down game.
TRAVIS LULAY BC
THIS WEEK: 6 | LAST WEEK: NOT RANKED
Travis Lulay couldn’t have dreamed it up any better. The Lions’ quarterback returned 10 months after his last start, shaking off the rust to erase a 17-point deficit and earn a key divisional win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. After Jonathon Jennings‘ struggles, Lulay’s ability and strong veteran presence make the Lions a threat to do some damage in the hotly-contested West.
TREVOR HARRIS OTT
THIS WEEK: 7 | LAST WEEK: 5
Trevor Harris has found his Kryptonite in the Calgary Stampeders, who stifled the veteran quarterback in holding him to just 93 yards and a 4.2-yard average per attempt in Week 5. While both of Harris’ duds have come against the CFL’s most stout defence (and it’s not even close at the moment), the 32-year-old has shown he’s got some ground to gain before being considered among the league’s elite signal-callers.
JEFF MATHEWS MTL
THIS WEEK: 8 | LAST WEEK: 8
Word out of Montreal is that Jeff Mathews is in a walking boot and may not be available for Week 5. While Drew Willy was set to return anyway, it’s a tough break for Mathews, who showed well in his first start as an Alouette vs. the Ottawa REDBLACKS. Mathews will try to recover and earn another shot with the first-team offence down the road.
BRANDON BRIDGE SSK
THIS WEEK: 9 | LAST WEEK: 9
The Riders have already named Canadian Brandon Bridge their starter for Week 6, but that doesn’t mean Chris Jones won’t continue to rotate his quarterbacks throughout the game. In a game that many are counting the Riders out of in Hamilton, Bridge needs to take the reins and make a statement about his future as a CFL starting quarterback — and give Jones no choice but to play him.
DAVID WATFORD SSK
THIS WEEK: 10 | LAST WEEK: 10
While he won’t get to start, David Watford continues to spell Brandon Bridge as the Riders’ man behind centre. While he still has lots to learn as a CFL signal-caller, the former Philadelphia Eagles receiver is athletic and can do some serious damage with his legs. Before the bye, Watford rushed for 50 yards on seven carries in a win over the Ticats.
OFF THE LIST: Jonathon Jennings, BC
INJURED RESERVE
DREW WILLY MTL
THIS WEEK: IR | LAST WEEK: IR
It looks like Drew Willy will be back behind centre when the Als visit the Stampeders on Saturday at McMahon. The Alouettes’ starter missed Week 4 with an injury, then enjoyed the bye in Week 5 so should be well-rested. He’ll need to be fresh considering what’s on tap, a Calgary defence that leads the league in almost every major statistical category.
RICKY RAY TOR
THIS WEEK: IR | LAST WEEK: IR
While no update has been provided on the health of Ricky Ray, the Argos’ offence is getting by with James Franklin under centre. Whether Ray plays again or not this season, the long-time CFL veteran can lend a pretty big hand both for the coaching staff and the team’s young pivots.
ZACH COLLAROS SSK
THIS WEEK: IR | LAST WEEK: IR
The Riders’ marquee off-season addition remains sidelined after suffering an apparent head injury in a Week 2 loss to Ottawa. There are a lot of questions under centre in Saskatchewan, but priority No. 1 for the Riders’ pivot is his health.
