Toronto Argonauts Week 1 Preview: Tough test right off the start vs. Lions

The CFL season is underway, and for the first time since 2021, the Toronto Argonauts will start their season in Week 1.

Ending the four-day slate of games is the Argonauts home opener against the B.C. Lions. A tough matchup that has its obvious benefits and challenges.

The Lions are viewed by many as a favourite to not only win the West Division but a likely contender to play in the Grey Cup, which will be held in Vancouver, so this team has a little more incentive to get over the hump.

Toronto's preparation for the season has been overshadowed by Chad Kelly's suspension. The team also saw many key contributors leave in free agency from A.J. Ouellette, top defensive player nominee Adarius Pickett, top rookie Qwan'tez Stiggers, Most Outstanding Special Teams player Javon Leake and trusty defensive players like Jamal Peters, Brandon Barlow, DeWayne Hendrix.

What isn't being talked about is the Argos ability to ensure some level of continuity with a roster that went 16-2 last season including a 9-0 record at home. The offensive line is intact after allowing a CFL-low 19 sacks in 2023 plus trusty receivers like DaVaris Daniels and Damontie Coxie are still in the fold.

A lot also hasn't been said about the new additions to the team, like former Calgary Stampeders running back Ka'Deem Carey, who will look to return to his 2022 form. He and Dan Adeboboye, will be looking to form a two-headed running game that will take some pressure off Cameron Dukes to start the season.

Carey couldn't wait to show off his cleats after going through his first pre-game walkthrough at BMO Field. The 31-year-old was only able to suit up for nine games last season because of injuries but is hoping to return to his 2022 form where he rushed for 1,088 yards and 10 touchdowns.

So far, the Arizona native has been encouraged by what he was able to do in training camp.

"I would say this was probably my next training camp on the field. Coach did a very good job with me getting the reps I needed, putting me in shape preparing for this first game," Carey said. "Even though I missed the pre-season game (with an illness), I'm really in a rhythm right now. Going into this first game and this season, staying healthy is the name of the game, and my goal is not just to put up great stats because I feel like I can do some things when I'm healthy."

Carey does believe playing on the grass surface at home will help in his ability to play more than he did last season.

What made the transition from Calgary to Toronto easier is that he was reunited with some familiar faces on both sides of the ball. There's no shortage of them as he spent time with players like DaShaun Amos, Daniels, Royce Metchie, Wynton McManis and Folarin Orimolade.

"The first person I saw was Amos, and I was happy because that was the first dude I saw when I first got to Calgary," Carey said. "So seeing him as one of the first coming into Toronto really made me feel at home.

"It's just great to play with those men. They won a championship, and they brought that environment here, and I'm just excited to join it and add to it."

Obviously, the Argonauts saw a historic regular season end in heartbreaking fashion after losing in the East Division final against the Montreal Alouettes.

Against B.C., the Argos know that anything but their best won't be good enough.

"I've been looking forward to playing them since the playoff game. They really did a good job building that defence," Carey said. "I like going up against good defences and good players and that team has them. It starts with their alignment up front to me with their defensive line where they can easily rotate their three guys."

The Argos have been hit by the injury bug to start the season with Coxie missing the first game because of a hamstring injury. He was close to playing, but head coach Ryan Dinwiddie wanted to use the Week 2 bye to give him extra time to be ready. David Ungerer and Kevin Mital have landed on the six-game injured list to start the season, along with a new addition in the secondary in Tunde Adeleke.

Dinwiddie said some of those players might be able to come off the six-game injured list early, but they wanted to have that flexibility in case they need more time.

The injuries will have rookie Makai Polk starting at the outside receiver position and Richie Sindani being elevated from the practice roster to a starting role. Both are players the team knows they can count on going into the game.

"Richie can play all five positions and started playing almost immediately when he stepped into our building (last year)," Dinwiddie said. "Polk showed up about a week after camp started and really proved himself. The fact we trust him so much made it an easy decision to rest Coxie."

On defence, there has been much talk about the team's decision to cut two regulars from the past couple of seasons Tarvarus McFadden and Maurice Carnell IV.

Dinwiddie spoke about the emergence of the younger players in the secondary plus Carnell's injury history as some of the factors that played into their decision. He also expressed trust in the veterans like Amos and Metchie to help bring the other guys along.

"Benji played last year for us and played well, and then Johnson, we feel like he is going to be the next Jamal Peters," Dinwiddie explained.

Another player to watch for is Tyshon Blackburn who Toronto selected in the third round of the 2024 CFL Draft. The Calgary native was a standout from the team's pre-season finale and had a promising resume from his time at the University of Alberta.

"We were excited that we got him in that round," Dinwiddie explained. "I thought he was a good football player and the one thing for him is he's kind of a Swiss Army Knife force on defence. He could play the Sam position, the field half and free safety. So assignment-wise, he was really clean, and he was making plays out there, and that's why we kept him."

Dukes will be in for a great test to show what he is capable of as a starting quarterback. The team believes his ability to scramble and use his legs will help him get out of danger and not force a play that isn't there and you can bet the Lions will try to force a mistake of two.