Franklin will face old team in first Argos start
The Toronto Argonauts are now James Franklin’s team.
Franklin will make his first start with Toronto on Saturday when the club hosts the Edmonton Eskimos at BMO Field. Franklin takes over as the Argos’ No. 1 quarterback with incumbent Ricky Ray sidelined with a neck injury.
Ray was hurt in Toronto’s 41-7 home loss to the Calgary Stampeders on June 23.
Toronto acquired the rights to Franklin last December from Edmonton while Ray pondered his CFL future. Franklin skipped free agency to sign a two-year contract extension with the Argos. The six-foot- two, 225-pound Franklin spent his first three CFL seasons (2015-17) backing up Edmonton veteran Mike Reilly, the CFL’s most outstanding player last year. Franklin appeared in 12 games with the Eskimos, going 2-1 as a starter.
Franklin replaced Ray against Calgary (3-0), completing eight of13 passes for 65 yards. He also ran three times for 14 yards, his 10-yard TD run accounting for Toronto’s lone touchdown of the game. It’s the ability to make plays with his feet that differentiates Franklin from Ray, a traditional drop-back passer. And that will present Edmonton’s defence with an additional challenge. Prediction: Edmonton. Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders (Thursday night) At Regina, Jeremiah Masoli chases a record-tying ninth straight 300-yard passing effort for Hamilton (2-1) after throwing for 369 yards and a TD in last week’s 31-17 home win over Winnipeg. Saskatchewan quarterback David Watford replaced Canadian Brandon Bridge to open the second half of last week’s 23-17 home loss to Montreal, but the Roughriders (1-2) have said they’re going back to Bridge against Hamilton. Prediction: Hamilton. Ottawa Redblacks vs. Montreal Alouettes (Friday night) At Montreal, the Alouettes (1-2) look to build off last week’s win over Saskatchewan that snapped their miserable 13game losing streak. Jeff Mathews was 8-of-12 passing for 98 yards in relief of Drew Willy (concussion protocol). Trevor Harris completed 13-of-29 passes for 135 yards and a pick for Ottawa (1-1) in last week’s 24-14 road loss to Calgary. Prediction: Ottawa. B.C. Lions vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Saturday night) At Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers (1-2) continue to chase their first home win of the season. Rookie Chris Streveler finished 17-of-28 passing for 146 yards and no TDs last week against Hamilton. B.C. (1-1) started out well enough against Edmonton but couldn’t make it stick as quarterback Jonathon Jennings finished 13-of-24 passing for 199 yards with an interception while rushing for 34 yards on five carries. Prediction: Winnipeg. Last week: 3-1 Overall: 8-4