Around the CFL: Winless Ticats need Shiltz to step up with Mitchell hurt

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats already are treading water in a season in which they’re all-in.

Now, the Ticats are about to play their home opener without their star quarterback.

To make matters worse, Bo Levi Mitchell wasn’t sharp before he suffered a lower-body injury after a hit on Sunday in a loss to the Toronto Argonauts. Mitchell’s injury pressed Matthew Shiltz into duty at BMO Field and gives the veteran the start for Friday’s home opener against the Montreal Alouettes.

Shiltz has proven to be one of the better backup quarterbacks in the CFL — and is quite familiar with Montreal after playing with the team from 2017-21. It wouldn’t be outrageous to suggest Shiltz gives the Ticats just as much of a chance to win as Mitchell at this stage.

Of course, that previous sentence represents a significant issue for the Ticats. Hamilton signed Mitchell, 33, to a three-year contract this off-season — banking on the two-time CFL most outstanding player returning to top form after losing the starting job to Jake Maier last year with the Calgary Stampeders.

Mitchell has one touchdown pass and four interceptions in losses to Winnipeg and Toronto. The two picks against the Argos were both on passes into the end zone.

Injuries on the offensive line also haven’t helped.

“You’re not excited about (Mitchell’s injury), except it’s part of the game,” Ticats coach Orlondo Steinauer told reporters this week, declining to reveal a timeline for Mitchell to return.

“We are excited for Matt and this football team and (backup) Taylor (Howell). There’s a reason we got Matt for a situation just like this. It’s proven time and time again that very few teams are fortunate to have their No. 1 guy play a whole season.”

After a year in which Dane Evans never established consistency as Hamilton’s No. 1, the Ticats traded for the rights to pending free agent Mitchell and then locked him up — deciding one of the bigger names in the league was the guy best equipped to lead the team into the Grey Cup game at home.

It’s still possible that happens, but one can’t discount the possibility of Shiltz taking the ball and running with it.

Shiltz completed 13 of 14 passes in relief last week. The 30-year-old Butler product completed 85 of 119 pass attempts (71.4 per cent) for 935 yards last season for Hamilton, with four touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing 28 times for 152 yards and a TD.

Frustration in Edmonton

Mitchell isn’t the only big-name free agent not enjoying the start he envisioned.

Wide receiver Eugene Lewis, who signed with the Edmonton Elks after a strong run with the Montreal Alouettes, had just one catch for nine yards in a 22-0 loss to the B.C. Lions last week. It was the first time Edmonton (0-2) had been shut out since 1976.

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While calling his performance “completely unacceptable,” the East’s top player in 2022 also said he needs more than the three targets he got in Vancouver.

“Shutouts are unacceptable,” said Lewis, who had 148 receiving yards, including a 102-yard TD reception, in his Elks debut against Saskatchewan.

“That’s an embarrassment for us as pros. We’ve got to score. I probably haven’t had that since high school. Not even high school, I’m not even sure in little league.”

Things we liked in Week 2

• Janarion Grant’s magnificent punt return for a touchdown, sparking Winnipeg to a win over Saskatchewan. Classic CFL special-teams play, using the whole field. Brought back memories of Henry “Gizmo” Williams and Jimmy “the Jet” Cunningham.

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• Chad Kelly’s debut as No. 1 quarterback for Toronto. He showed he can make things happen with his arms and legs.

• The noise of the crowd in Toronto. A crowd of 15,967 (not great, but it has been worse) turned out to watch the Argos raise their Grey Cup banner, and they made BMO Field a fun place to be.

• The performances of Roughriders QB Trevor Harris and Canadian receiver Samuel Emulis (first three career touchdowns). The Roughriders look far better than last year.

Things we didn’t like in Week 2

• The Elks scoring zero points in B.C. Elks coach Chris Jones is sticking with QB Taylor Cornelius for now, but the heat is on.

• QB Nick Arbuckle’s second straight shaky start for Ottawa.

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• The Tiger-Cats falling behind badly early for the second week in a row.

Power rankings (Season record, last week’s ranking in brackets)

1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-0, 1): Zach Collaros-led offence clicking on all cylinders.

2. Toronto Argonauts (1-0, 3): Kelly era started with a strong performance against Hamilton.

3. B.C. Lions (2-0, 2): Offence wasn’t as crisp in shutout win over Edmonton, but the defence has been stellar.

4. Calgary Stampeders (1-1, 5): Maier improved in win over Saskatchewan.

5. Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-1, 6): Team went punch-for-punch with Blue Bombers for three quarters before a rough finish.

6. Montreal Alouettes (1-0, 7): Coming off a bye week, the Als have another winnable game in Hamilton.

7. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-2, 4): All eyes on Shiltz as team plays its home opener. Get a bye next week.

8. Ottawa Redblacks (0-2, 8): Good time for a bye week, as the Redblacks hope QB Jeremiah Masoli can return from injury June 30 vs. Edmonton

9. Edmonton Elks (0-2, 9): Team is supposed to be more competitive in Jones’ second year.

Week 3 picks

B.C. Lions at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-6.5), Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT: Some key injuries — Bombers running back Brady Oliveira is a game-time decision, Lions receiver Dominique Rhymes is out and fellow WR Lucky Whitehead returns after missing last week’s game. PICK: Winnipeg

Montreal Alouettes at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (-2.5), Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT: Ticats on a short week while Alouettes coming off the bye. PICK: Montreal

Saskatchewan Roughriders at Calgary Stampeders (-3.5), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT: If Saskatchewan wants to be a playoff contender this year, a win here sure would help. PICK: Saskatchewan

Toronto Argonauts (-6.5) at Edmonton Elks, Sunday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT: Elks’ defence is in the middle of the league in opponents’ points allowed on offence. If that trend holds, they have a chance to end an 18-game home losing streak. PICK: Edmonton

2023 picks record to date: 4-4

All odds from FanDuel as of Wednesday.

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#CFL #Winless #Ticats #Shiltz #step #Mitchell #hurt

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