The Toronto Argonauts will have their starting quarterback under centre as they visit the BC Lions Friday night.
Nick Arbuckle was confirmed as the Week 17 starter after missing last week’s game with a calf injury.
The veteran Arbuckle took about 60 per cent of the reps with the starters at Thursday’s practice, ahead of Jarret Doege, who started last week’s loss to the Montreal Alouettes.
“You know, Jarret still got about 40 per cent of it but I was shocked Nick was moving around as good as he was,” head coach Dinwiddie said. “We’ll see how (Wednesday) is going to go.
“If he’s full strength like he was (Tuesday), I anticipate him being our starting quarterback.”
The Argos (5-9) had a three-game winning streak snapped by the Als and have a renewed sense of urgency as they try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
“I just told the guys ‘Great fight, we’re not dead yet,’” Dinwiddie said following the 21-19 Week 16 loss to Montreal. “We’re down, that was a tough loss. “But at the same time I think it kind of bonded us together a little bit. We’ve got four games, we’ve probably got to win all four.”
Toronto sits third in the East Division behind the Alouettes (7-7) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (9-5).
The Lions (7-7) have won two straight and four of their past six games, behind an offence that has averaged 39 points over that span.
Quarterback Nathan Rourke continued his excellent season last week against the Calgary Stampeders, throwing for 331 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another three scores. The Victoria, B.C., native has now gone over 300 yards passing in five of his past six games and sits third in the CFL in passing yards with 3,935, trailing only Arbuckle (4,089) and Bo Levi Mitchell (4,194).
With his performance against Calgary, Rourke also broke Russ Jackson’s record (3,641) for most passing yards in a season by a Canadian quarterback.
“I’m doing whatever it takes to help this team win, and I’m one of 12, and so I’m happy to be able to be a Canadian and have success in this position, and I am happy to be part of Canadian football, which I think is very bright at the moment,” Rourke said after last Friday’s 52-23 win over the Calgary Stampeders.
The last meeting between the teams was a high-scoring 52-34 win by the Argonauts in August. This meeting should once again provide fireworks as the Lons boast the CFL’s best offence (30.7 points per game), while the Argos allow a league-high 31.3 points per contest.