Bo Levi Mitchell ‘ready to let it rip’ for the Stampeders

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

Bo Levi Mitchell went through an entire session with the Stampeders on Tuesday for the first time in a long time.

#Stamps Mitchell running the skeleton team offence, throwing the ball with authority… not allowed to shoot during practice so I’ll show you a throw from warmup 😉 And he’s giving the young rookie some feedback as well 🏈 pic.twitter.com/KcprmlRfxB

— Jermain Franklin (@TSNJFranklin) August 6, 2019

3:00

↑ what lands at 3 p.m. daily

3DownNation Daily

Get game analysis, stats, and more daily at 3pm

Here’s exactly what you’ll get.

One email. Every weekday at 3 p.m. Your daily CFL briefing.

• ✓ Canadian football's biggest stories
• ✓ Smart game analysis
• ✓ Every CFL transaction covered with exclusive insight

Email Address

Subscribe →

Free. Unsubscribe anytime. By signing up you agree to receive daily emails from 3DownNation, as well as our terms of service and privacy policy. 1900 Rose St, Regina SK S4P 0A9.

“Arm felt great. Overall felt really good. They’re kind of having to temper me down, make sure I don’t overdue it. I’m ready to let it rip,” Mitchell said.

“Mentally getting out there and letting it go and not protecting – not trying to baby throws. I told myself let it rip and if something happens, something happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. So I went out there and threw it hard.”

The Stampeders’ franchise pivot completed 23-of-34 passes for 252 yards with two touchdowns and one interception during the Stamps Week 3 win against B.C. prior to leaving the game late in the fourth quarter after injuring his right pectoral muscle.

Following the setback, the star QB was placed on the six-game injured list. It caused Mitchell to miss a start for the first time since 2014. Mitchell had the MRI on his pectoral muscle sent to renowned doctor Neal ElAttrache who works primarily out of Los Angeles. ElAttrache performed Tom Brady’s ACL surgery in 2008 and multiple operations on five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant among other star athletes.

The results and expert opinion came back from ElAttrache with a small issue that needed shrinking in order to subside the pain. It’s ElAttrache who took care of a cortisone injection and ensured the league’s reigning MOP rehabbed back to full health.

“No pain. A little bit of tightness just from not throwing for the last six weeks. And then about halfway through the practice it really loosened up, started to feel really good,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell played the majority of the 2017 season with tears in his throwing shoulder and elbow issues. That year he sought out ElAttrache as the doc developed a rehab plan which allowed Mitchell to keep playing. He managed to throw for 4,700 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while leading Calgary to the best record in the CFL at 13-4-1 despite the ailments.

While watching Nick Arbuckle guide the Stampeders to a 4-1 record, Mitchell has had a vibe going on the sidelines. Calgary plays the Bombers on Thursday for top spot in the West Division. Mitchell hopes to start against Winnipeg, but the decision is up to head coach Dave Dickenson and general manager John Hufnagel.

“If I’m in the lineup,” Mitchell said, I expect to be the guy on the field.”