Coach ‘not in a hurry’ to make Ray starter
QB taken off injured list, but Milanovich is waiting before replacing Harris
Ricky Ray is back, but he has plenty of ground to make up.
The Argonauts took the veteran quarterback off the six-game injured list Thursday, allowing him to practise for the first time this year. The 35-year-old Californian spent the first half of the season recovering from shoulder surgery and said it felt “weird” throwing passes again.
“It feels like you’re coming out from a long off-season and trying to get back into the rhythm of things,” Ray said. “The only bad thing is, everybody else has already done that.
“I’ve been watching for a long time, but it definitely feels weird. It feels like I haven’t done it in a while. I feel I’ve got to the point where I can make most of the throws. . . . It’s just about getting out there and throwing to some receivers and trying to get used to being out there again.”
The six-foot-three, 210-pound Ray has enjoyed a successful tenure in Toronto since being acquired from Edmonton after the 2011 season. Ray led the Argos to victory in the 2012 Grey Cup and has been the East Divi- sion’s top player the last two years.
But the Argos (6-3) haven’t skipped a beat with backup Trevor Harris. They are tied atop the East with archrival Hamilton heading into a crucial home-and-home series with the Tiger-Cats starting Monday afternoon at Tim Hortons Field.
“I’m excited to have Ricky back,” Harris said. “He’s a hall of fame player, he’s a hall of fame teammate and he’s always there as a good sounding board for me, so we welcome Ricky back with open arms.”
Harris, like Ray in the final year of his CFL contract, leads the league in touchdowns (19), completion percentage (74.4) and efficiency rating (112.7) and sits fourth in passing yards (2,453). Argo head coach Scott Milanovich said while Ray will likely dress Monday, Harris remains the starter.
“(Ray) is going to be active more than likely, but he’ll be the third-teamer,” Milanovich said. “It’s still Trevor’s team. (Ray) has to prove to me and us he’s fit and able to help us, but we’re not in a hurry with him.”
Veteran slotback Chad Owens, who has missed four games with an ankle injury, also practised Thursday. Milanovich said Owens could play Monday if he has no setbacks.
Ray had surgery on his throwing shoulder in December and admitted he wasn’t expecting such a long recovery process. The three-time Grey Cup champion admitted he felt anger and frustration while sidelined and was worried about whether he’d be able to come back.
“Probably all of those (emotions),” Ray said. “Some days you come out and it feels pretty good and you’re like, ‘Man, it’s about ready to turn the corner,’ then you come out another day and it’s maybe not as good as the day before and it plays with your mind quite a bit throughout the process.”
After the second date with Hamilton at the Rogers Centre on Sept. 11, the Argos will be off before travelling to Ottawa on Sept. 26.
Finding playing time for Ray will present a challenge for Milanovich because he also doesn’t want to damage Harris’s confidence or disrupt the chemistry of a winning team.
“I understand the situation,” Ray said. “I’m just trying to get myself healthy where if, for some reason my number is called, (I’m) ready to go, and I don’t have any expectations of anything other than that.”