Around the CFL: Can Ticats QB Tre Ford maintain momentum vs. Argos?

Tre Ford has bounced between starting quarterback and backup for all five of his CFL seasons.

On Saturday, the dynamic Canadian just might get another chance to grab hold of a No. 1 job with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in what should be a fantastic environment.

Coming off a comeback win in relief of an injured Harrison Frost against the reigning Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders, Ford got starter's reps in the first two days of practice ahead of this weekend's crucial CNE game against the Toronto Argonauts at BMO Field.

Frost (back) was listed as limited to open the week and has not been ruled out. But with Ford having guided the Ticats to an exciting win over the Argos earlier this season in Hamilton and riding the momentum of last week's big victory, it feels likely he'll be a key part of Saturday's battle for second place in the CFL East.

"Certainly none of us were surprised to see Tre rise to the occasion," Ticats assistant head coach Bob Dyce told reporters in Hamilton earlier this week. "Tre is a fantastic quarterback and it's a testament to his mental fortitude and his strength and his belief in himself. And his teammates believe in him."

The Ticats have used three starting quarterbacks — Jake Dolegala, Ford and Frost — since star QB Bo Levi Mitchell suffered an ankle injury last month.

Ford, a native of Niagara Falls, Ont., won his starting debut for the Ticats before dropping his next two games and being replaced by Frost.

A first-round pick by Edmonton in 2022 after winning the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in U Sports with the Waterloo Warriors, Ford went 10-13 for the Elks as a starter before signing with the Ticats this past off-season.

The six-foot, 192-pound Ford is as fast as any QB in pro football, and his legs are a major weapon. It's his arm that has been questioned at times, but he seems to thrive when he gets out of the pocket.

Such was the case last week when he rolled to his right and fired a deep ball, while he was about to get hit, to Keric Wheatfall, who made a leaping, highlight-reel haul to spark the comeback.

Ford finished 13-of-17 for 151 yards and one TD, while adding 38 rushing yards.

"Tre can throw the ball, especially when he gets out of the pocket," Wheatfall said. "I feel like he's definitely most dangerous when he's out of the pocket scrambling. I feel like his arm somehow is way stronger when he's out of the pocket. That's the thing with Tre. We love Tre."

The Ticats can clinch the season series and own the all-important tiebreaker against the Argos with a win on Saturday or on Labour Day in their annual showdown in Hamilton.

Hamilton was rolling before Mitchell suffered his injury. But the team has left the door open to the East's top player the past two years making a return near the end of the season.