Wilder’s future with Argos up in air
James Wilder Jr. remains a Toronto Argonaut, at least for now.
The veteran running back practised Monday, two days after meeting with head coach Corey Chamblin and general manager Jim Popp regarding his future with the club. The sit-down came after Wilder — who missed two contests with a rib injury — was scratched for Friday’s 41-26 home loss to the Edmonton Eskimos, a decision Chamblin said was ultimately his.
The move fuelled speculation that Wilder, the CFL’s top rookie in 2017, was on the trade block. Chamblin refuted that following the game, but couldn’t guarantee either Wilder’s long-term future, or even his own, on Monday.
“I can’t say (Wilder will stay) for the rest of the season,” Chamblin said. “I don’t even know if I will be the coach for the rest of the season. That’s just the world we live in.”
Given Toronto sits last in the East Division at 1-7, no one’s future — players, coaches or management — is secure. Chamblin wouldn’t discount the idea of Wilder being dealt.
“I foresee him being with us this week unless something changes, and like I told him, ‘Hey it’s week to week,’ ” Chamblin said. “We’d never do anything to harm his career … and if that means him becoming the starting tailback and putting his career back on track we’re going to do that.
“If that means he’s traded if we can’t find that situation, then we’ll do that. I think that’s where we are now, finding what’s the best fit for all of us to make this a winning situation.”
Toronto split its running back duties between veteran Chris Rainey and Brandon Burks on Friday at BMO Field. Rainey ran for a team-high 58 yards on eight carries, while Burks had 43 yards on five carries.
Wilder is Toronto’s secondleading rusher with 161 yards on 38 carries, along with 26 catches for 260 yards and two TDs.
Also Monday, quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson practised with the starting offence while former starter James Franklin worked out with the second unit. Franklin has been on the six-game injured list with a hamstring ailment, but resumed practising last week.
Zach Collaros, acquired from Saskatchewan on July 31, again threw on the side. Collaros started the Riders’ season opener, but went on the sixgame injured list after being hit in the head by Hamilton linebacker Simoni Lawrence, who was subsequently suspended for two games.
SEVENTH DOWN: Matt Nichols is the latest CFL opening-day starting quarterback to go down. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced that Nichols (upper body) will go on the six-game injured list after he was hurt in last week’s 32-16 win over the B.C. Lions. Nichols will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks, but won’t require surgery. Sophomore Chris Streveler takes over under centre. Nichols is the seventh openingday starter to miss time this season due to injury, after Collaros, Franklin, Calgary’s Bo Levi Mitchell, Hamilton’s Jeremiah Masoli, Ottawa’s Dominique Davis and Montreal’s Antonio Pipkin.
RUSH HOUR: Winnipeg’s Andrew Harris became the alltime leading Canadian in yards from scrimmage during the Bombers’ 32-16 win over the B.C. Lions last Thursday. Harris ran for 73 yards on 14 carries to boost his career total to 13,377 yards, passing Ben Cahoon (13,368).