Canadian QB Michael O’Connor could start over injured Bo Levi Mitchell in Week 3: report

Photo courtesy: Candice Ward/Stampeders.com.

The Calgary Stampeders could be without Bo Levi Mitchell when they host the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night, as per TSN’s Farhan Lalji.

Looks as though @calstampeders QB Bo Levi Mitchell will be forced to miss some game action. He was in fact playing with a leg injury on Thursday that was suffered in week 1. Expect [Canadian] QB Michael [O’Connor] to make his first @cfl start this Fri vs #AlsMtl.

Mitchell has led the Stampeders to back-to-back losses to start the season, opening the season 0-2 for the first time in his CFL career. He also leads the league in interceptions with five, which is highly uncharacteristic of the league’s two-time Most Outstanding Player.

O’Connor signed with Calgary as a free agent in February 2021 after spending his rookie season with the Toronto Argonauts in 2019. He dressed for nine games, completing 15-of-25 pass attempts for 173 yards and one touchdowns.

The native of Orleans, Ont. is proud to be Canadian but has expressed that he only wants to be viewed as a quarterback, avoiding the stigma that is sometimes associated with being a homegrown passer.

Head coach Dave Dickenson said he was pleased with O’Connor’s development during training camp, which probably played a role in the team’s decision to release Dakota Prukop. The young quarterback was also signed away from the Argos to complete for the team’s backup job, but failed to earn a roster spot when final cuts were executed.