Stampeders meet Alouettes without QB Bo Levi Mitchell
The Calgary Stampeders lost their first two games of the season and now the situation is even worse.
Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell is out at least the next six games due to a broken fibula, beginning with Friday night's home game against the Montreal Alouettes (1-0).
Mitchell was injured in the second half of the season opener against the Toronto Argonauts on Aug. 7. The two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player played against the B.C. Lions on Aug. 12 and was highly ineffective, throwing a career-worst four interceptions in the 15-9 home loss.
"I tried to power through," Mitchell said this week. "Maybe not my smartest move in the world but we talk about grit and things like that here and I've always tried to play through anything if I can to help my team."
Stampeders coach Dave Dickenson hasn't yet announced a starter but reports suggest 25-year-old Michael O'Connor will draw the start over fellow backup Jake Maier.
O'Connor saw limited action for Toronto in 2019 and completed 15 of 25 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown. The 24-year-old Maier hasn't seen any CFL action and last threw a pass for UC Davis in 2019.
"Both guys are fairly inexperienced," Dickenson told reporters. "Just go be yourselves. I'm not looking to have a quarterback carousel -- I've never done that. I've always been a guy who believes that a starting quarterback needs to learn that he can make mistakes and still be in there. You can't win in the CFL with the quarterbacks just being safe."
Montreal figures to apply a lot of pressure on the Calgary quarterbacks after notching four sacks in its season-opening 30-13 road win over the Edmonton Elks last Saturday.
Defensive end Antonio Simmons had two sacks and the Alouettes didn't let Edmonton reach the end zone until 82 seconds remained.
"We can still play a lot better," Simmons told reporters. "That was our first game in two years, our first time playing with each other. We're looking good but can play way better."
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 13 of 21 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns and Mario Alford provided some excitement with an 86-yard punt return score.
--Field Level Media
