The Toronto Argonauts will sit starting quarterback Chad Kelly for the second half of their Week 9 matchup with the Calgary Stampeders due to an ankle injury.
Kelly was five-of-seven for 98 yards and a touchdown through nearly two quarters of action, before exiting the game with a noticeable limp. Backup Cameron Dukes took over with 5:11 remaining in the half, leading a long drive that resulted in an endzone interception.
Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said after halftime that Kelly remains available if neccesary, but that the team intends to roll with Dukes.
The 29-year-old was regarded by most analysts as the Most Outstanding Player frontrunner entering the week, having completed 104-of-148 attempts for 1,530 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions in his first season as the starter. He had also carried 19 times for 112 yards and five touchdowns.
The Ole Miss product joined the Argonauts ahead of the 2022 season following four seasons in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. He started one game, the regular season finale, but rose to national prominence after he came off the bench in the fourth quarter of the Grey Cup to lead Toronto to victory.
Dukes is in his rookie CFL season, having previously played with the Vegas Knighthawks of the Indoor Football League in 2022. In eight games, Dukes threw for 1,103 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions, while rushing for 101 yards and three scores on the ground.
The 24-year-old played four seasons at Lindsey Wilson College in the NAIA, becoming the most prolific passer in Blue Raiders history. The six-foot-one, 205-pound signal caller was a three-time NAIA All-American and three-time Mid-South Conference offensive player of the year while throwing for 10,439 yards, 114 touchdowns, and just 21 interceptions.
He also rushed for 1,944 yards and 34 touchdowns in 49 career games, helping lead the team to a national championship during the 2021 spring season. Dukes was named a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, awarded to the top football student-athlete in the nation.
