Hamilton Tiger-Cats name David Watford starting QB for Week 7 against Stamps

Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have named David Watford their starting quarterback for Week 7 against the Calgary Stampeders.

Watford took the majority of reps with the starting offence during the preparation week of practice for the Calgary Stampeders. He finished Hamilton’s Week 6 loss to the Toronto Argonauts completing 6-of-10 passes for 78 yards while leading a late touchdown drive.

The 28-year-old Watford has never started at QB in the pro three-down league. He has appeared in 30 career CFL games with the Riders and Tiger-Cats, connecting on 26-of-50 pass attempts for 320 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, while adding 34 carries for 133 yards and six rushing majors.

He appeared in 12 regular season games with the Ticats in 2019, completing 5-of-8 attempts for 74 yards while adding 16 carries for 40 rushing yards and was tied for sixth in the CFL with a team-high six rushing touchdowns. The six-foot-two, 215-pound native of Hampton, Virginia also suited up in both of Hamilton’s playoff games, including the 107th Grey Cup in Calgary.

The Hampton University product went unselected in the 2016 NFL draft, but signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles as a receiver. Watford spent the 2016 season on the Eagles practice roster. However, Philly waived him during training camp in 2017.