Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was forced out of his team’s Week 2 loss to the Toronto Argonauts with an injury.
“(He didn’t feel) well enough to return to the game, so that’s all we’re told. Obviously, a lower-body injury and (he) just wasn’t well enough to return,” head coach Orlondo Steinauer told the media postgame. He declined to speculate regarding the severity of the injury.
Mitchell went down after he was hit by Argonauts’ linebacker Wynton McManis while attempting a pass in the fourth quarter. The veteran signal-caller retreated to the medical tent and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest. He was later seen heading to the locker room with an ice pack on his left quad.
Mitchell was making his second start for Hamilton since joining the team via trade in November. Prior to the injury, he was 16-of-24 passing for 158 yards and two interceptions, both of which came in the end zone. He also rushed twice for eight yards.
The 33-year-old has gone 33-of-57 for 358 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions as a Ticat. He was critical of his Week 1 performance, calling it “just not good enough.”
Backup Matthew Shiltz came off the bench to finish the game, going 13-of-14 for 115 yards and a touchdown to Canadian receiver Tyler Ternowski. It wasn’t enough to mount a comeback, as Hamilton fell 32-14.
Mitchell signed a three-year contract extension after Hamilton acquired his rights, choosing not to test the open market. He is scheduled to make $502,000 in hard money this year.
Mitchell joined the Calgary Stampeders fresh out of college in 2012 and was named the full-time starter two years later. He became the franchise’s all-time leading passer in 2022 and threw for 32,541 yards with 188 touchdowns and 89 interceptions over his 10-year career with the club,
The Eastern Washington product has won two Grey Cups as the Stampeders’ starter, taking home the Most Valuable Player award in both games. He was named the league’s Most Outstanding Player in both 2016 and 2018 but has struggled to regain his form after suffering several injuries.
Mitchell was plagued by a shoulder injury throughout the 2021 season, which contributed to him throwing for 2,594 yards with 10 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The veteran passer completed 61.3 percent of his passes in 2022 for 2,010 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions, going 6-3 as a starter before being replaced by 25-year-old Jake Maier.
The Ticats (0-2) have just four days off until they are scheduled to host the Montreal Alouettes (1-0) on Friday, June 23.
