Blue Bombers out to begin playoff push vs. Argonauts

Winnipeg linebacker Adam Bighill knows the 2-5 Blue Bombers have a, well, big hill to climb to enter the playoff picture.

He also knows the only way to do it is by going 1-0 each week, starting with Saturday's road game against a Toronto Argonauts squad with a quarterback quandary.

When he was a rookie with the B.C. Lions in 2011, Bighill's squad started 0-5 before reversing course and winning the Grey Cup.

"A lot of teams talked about that mindset, but at the end of the day ... you have to dig yourself out of a big hole and you have to flush everything behind you because it doesn't matter," Bighill told the Winnipeg Sun.

"Move forward with the right intentions and mindset of the team, of who you are and who you want to be. It's really taking care of everything 6 inches in front of your face every single practice, every single meeting room, and every single game."

Winnipeg dropped to 0-3 on the road with a 19-9 loss at Saskatchewan on July 19. The Blue Bombers' attempts to rally against the Roughriders were thwarted by the 1-2 punch of penalties (six for 81 yards) and three turnovers.

Meanwhile, Toronto returns home after a 27-24 loss at the previously winless Hamilton Tiger-Cats last Saturday. The Argonauts fell behind 27-10 in the third quarter before mounting a late rally with backup quarterback Nick Arbuckle.

Toronto (3-3) has lost three of its last four games. Starting quarterback Cameron Dukes has struggled in that stretch, throwing just one touchdown pass and five interceptions since Week 2.

Quarterback Chad Kelly, the 2023 CFL Most Outstanding Player, is still serving a league suspension of at least nine games but could start practicing with the team soon, coach Ryan Dinwiddie told TSN.

"I assume the league would potentially allow him to practice before the suspension is lifted," Dinwiddie said. "Player safety wise, the kid's got to at least get out there and get going."

Until Kelly's return, Dinwiddie plans to use both Dukes and Arbuckle in a platoon system.

"I'm probably going to play both of them and we'll go from there," Dinwiddie said. "I believe in Cam, still do, but Nick, I have a comfort level with him, I've won some games with him, I've been around him a long time."

--Field Level Media