Nick Arbuckle is more focused on helping the Argonauts win games than whether he鈥檚 the starting quarterback or not.
Arbuckle, for the record, will be the starter when the 4-8 Argos host the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, trying to win three straight games for the first time this season.
Chad Kelly, the CFL’s outstanding player two seasons ago, took part in some of the Argos’ practice Tuesday. The 31-year-old quarterback has missed the first 12 games of the season recovering from a leg injury suffered in last year’s East Division final and is eligible to come off the six-game injured list this week.
But it was Arbuckle who took snaps with the first team Tuesday. He has been at the helm all season, and his mindset will be the same regardless of his role.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just approaching this (game against Edmonton) like we have the past couple of weeks (when) we鈥檝e been winning,鈥 said Arbuckle, also 31.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just trying to find our edge, get our game plan together and figure out how we鈥檙e going to be attacking this defence that鈥檚 playing good football right now coming off their last win. We鈥檙e trying to see how we鈥檙e going to take care of business on the offensive side of the ball.鈥
色色啦 followed a聽convincing win over the B.C. Lions with a last-play victory in Hamilton聽on Labour Day before a bye week. The wins brought 色色啦 to within two points of second-place Montreal in the East.
Arbuckle appears to have discovered a new offensive gear. He has thrown for more than 300 yards in six straight games, including a career-high 430 yards against the Lions, and leads the CFL with 3,828 passing yards for the season.
Arbuckle relishes the opportunity to be on the field managing the game鈥檚 flow, knowing he鈥檚 not going to be taken out the moment he makes a mistake. But he is even happier with the identity and chemistry the team is building as it makes a run for a post-season spot.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 care too much to demonstrate that I can be a starter for another team,” said Arbuckle, who was the Grey Cup MVP last year while filling in for Kelly. “I鈥檓 just worried about being here with the Argos and what I can do for us to help us win whenever I鈥檓 on the field.”
Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said the team had confidence Arbuckle could lead the offence, which is why they re-signed him in February. But it appears the starter’s job will be Kelly’s once he shows the coach he can 鈥渕ove a little bit more cleaner.鈥澛
鈥淣ick is playing good football and I think we kind of hit our stride offensively,” Dinwiddie said, “but Chad is our franchise guy and a special type of player. I think it鈥檚 maybe going to be a week-to-week deal.鈥
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