Arbuckle set to start for Stamps

After some optimism earlier in the week, Bo Levi Mitchell won’t make his return to the lineup for the Calgary Stampeders against the Montreal Alouettes today.

Instead, Nick Arbuckle will start his seventh straight game at quarterback for the Stampeders (53) in place of Mitchell, who has missed the past six games with a tear in his pectoral muscle.

“Unfortunately, Bo had to take a step back,” Calgary coach Dave Dickenson said of Mitchell, who practised on Tuesday but didn’t throw on Wednesday or Thursday due to soreness.

Dickenson also revealed that there’s no timetable for the return of last year’s CFL outstanding player and Grey Cup MVP, and that Mitchell has been placed back on the six-game injured list.

“We just weren’t able to get him practising and feeling good, but Nick does feel like he’s ready to go, which is what we’ve been operating with the last six weeks anyways,” said Dickenson, who added that the Alouettes (3-4) will pose a “big challenge” for Arbuckle and the Stamps.

Regardless of who is in at QB for Calgary, Montreal coach Khari Jones prepared his team to face a strong offensive unit.

“We knew whatever we got, we were going to get a quality club,” Jones said. “Of course, Bo Levi Mitchell is as good as it gets in the league, but if we had to face him, we were going to be prepared for that.

“We think Arbuckle is doing a really good job over here as a young quarterback, so we knew that no matter who they showed up with, they were going to play quality football and we have to be ready for that.”