Here are the lineup changes for the Argos as they get set to face Ottawa on Friday night at BMO Field (7:00, TSN, TSN 1050).
A reminder that these are the starting lineups, and player movement during the game is constant.
There’s been a change at quarterback, as McLeod Bethel-Thompson will get the start this week. He passed for 411 yards and three touchdowns when the Argos beat the Redblacks 46-17 in Ottawa on September 7. James Franklin will back him up, with Dakota Prukop and Ottawa native Mike O’Connor also on the depth chart.
James Wilder Jr. scored three TDs in last month’s game in the Capital, he’ll be at running back with Chris Rainey. Likewise, there are no changes at fullback, with Declan Cross starting ahead of Regis Cibasu.
There could be history made on Friday night, as S.J. Green finds himself just 90 yards shy of the 10,000-yard mark for his career. He’ll be joined in the receiving corps by starters Rod Smith, Jimmy Ralph, Armanti Edwards and Derel Walker, who last week hit the 1,000-yard mark for the season, the third time he’s done that in his career. The reserves are Kurleigh Gittens Jr., another Ottawa native, Llevi Noel, and Alex Charette, who was a late addition to the lineup in B.C.
The offensive line is the same as last week, with Sean McEwen at centre, Jamal Campbell and Randy Richards at tackle, with Ryan Bomben and Tyler Holmes, yet another Ottawa product, at guard. Shane Richards will also dress.
There’s a change on the D-line, as Kingsley Opara will start for Davon Coleman, who has been placed on the six-game injured list. Cleyon Laing starts at the other tackle spot, while Jhaustin Thomas and Linden Gaydosh will rotate through. Freddie Bishop III and Kennan Gilchrist are the ends, with Frank Beltre backing them up.
Ian Wild has been placed on the six-game injured list as well, so Tobi Antigha will get the start at MLB. Eric Striker will be at WILL, with Abdul Kanneh at SAM. Nakas Onkeya, Nelkas Kwemo, Sean Harrington, Juwan Foggie and Global player Christian Hernandez will also dress.
Robert Woodson is back in the lineup. He missed the B.C. game as he and his partner were expecting their first son, who was born on Wednesday. He’ll be on one corner with Anthony Covington on the other side. Trumaine Washington and Qudarius Ford are the halfbacks, with Alden Darby Jr. at safety. Jermaine Gabriel will back them up. Matt Boateng has been placed on the six-game injured list.
Tyler Crapigna, still another Ottawa native, is the placekicker, Ronnie Pfeffer is the punter, Jake Reinhart is the longsnapper.