Ray returns against Montreal
TORONTO — The Toronto Argonauts have their offensive leader back.
Veteran quarterback Ricky Ray will start Saturday afternoon when Toronto (3-5) hosts the Montreal Alouettes (3-4). The game will complete a home-and-home series between the East Division rivals.
Montreal earned a 21-9 win last Friday and can capture the season series with another victory.
Ray didn’t play last week after suffering a shoulder injury in a 4124 home loss to Calgary on Aug. 3. Jeff Mathews, who started in Ray’s spot, and Cody Fajardo were a combined 18-of-28 passing for 142 yards.
Ray’s return should provide a major boost to Toronto’s passhappy offence. Prior to being injured, Ray opened the season with 300 or more yards passing in the Argos’ first six games.
“He’s just an outstanding leader and player and has been an outstanding player on a consistent basis for a very long time,” Argos head coach Marc Trestman said. “He’s certainly a decorated player ... and arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks to play in this league based on what he’s accomplished.”
Ray, 37, is a three-time Grey Cup champion with over 57,000 career passing years. Earlier this year, he surpassed Condredge Holloway as Toronto’s all-time passing leader.
Ray, also the most accurate passer in CFL history, needs three TD strikes to break Holloway’s club record of 98. But personal accomplishments mean little to Ray.
“Obviously when you’re done playing if you have a few records to look back on, it makes it fun,” he said. “The things I’ll remember more are the Grey Cup teams I’ve been on ... that’s where the fond memories are.”
Ray missed 15 regular-season games in 2015 recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. He said his shoulder issues have been the result of bad luck.
“It’s just been caught in awkward positions,” he said. “When I first hurt it a few years back I had my arm above my head when I landed, and this year I had my arm going up to throw and got hit from the side.
“If my arm had been down it would’ve just been another hit. Obviously we work hard on pass protection and as a quarterback you’re trained (in) getting rid of the football in a timely matter.”