Chad Kelly had no trouble shaking off the rust in his first outing of the season.
The reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player of the Year will look for another stellar outing on Monday when the Toronto Argonauts visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a Labor Day showdown.
Kelly missed the first nine games of the season due to a suspension for violating the CFL’s gender-based violence policy.
The discipline came after a former Toronto strength and conditioning coach filed a lawsuit accusing Kelly of sexual harassment and the Argonauts of wrongful termination. The suit was settled in June.
Kelly was reinstated by the CFL on Aug. 18 in what was termed “a last-chance agreement.”
Despite the inactivity, the 30-year-old Kelly completed 24 of 39 passes for 322 yards and an interception in a 20-19 home win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Aug. 22.
“First game back I had a lot of nervousness in me and we came out on top,” Kelly said. “Obviously a win is a win.”
Last season, Kelly passed for 4,123 yards, 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions during his player of the year campaign.
The Argonauts (6-4) are hoping Kelly can propel them on a late-season run. They are looking for their third straight win.
As for the Tiger-Cats (2-9), they have lost four straight games and own the worst record in the league.
Their playoff aspirations aren’t formally over but they are on life support.
“We don’t talk a lot about playoffs, Grey Cup. I never have,” Hamilton coach Scott Milanovich said. “I think everybody is well aware of the situation, what it would take, all those things.”
The Tiger-Cats let a late lead get away during a 26-23 loss to the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Aug. 23.
Winnipeg’s Zach Collaros tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Lawler with 19 seconds remaining to stun the Hamilton players.
“There is no moral victory,” said receiver Tim White, who caught seven passes for 134 yards and also had a 31-yard run on a reverse. “We’re looking at the end result and at the end of the day we lost the game.”
Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell leads the CFL with 3,036 yards and 19 touchdowns but he’s also tied for the interception lead of 12 with Collaros.
Hamilton recorded a 27-24 home win over Toronto on July 20 when Mitchell passed for 270 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
–Field Level Media
