After serving an 11-game suspension, including nine regular-season games, Chad Kelly’s return seemed a foregone conclusion after attending CFL-mandated counseling sessions.

Kelly was suspended after a former Argonauts employee filed a harassment lawsuit against him, which has since been settled.

However, Friday’s reinstatement meeting between Kelly and CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie was anything but a mere formality.

As TSN’s Dave Naylor reported, Kelly’s meeting with Canadian Football League Commissioner Randy Ambrosie didn’t result in a resolution. Instead, Kelly and his camp were blindsided when the CFL added an additional hurdle in the form of a “last chance agreement” that Kelly must agree to in order to continue his career in the Canadian Football League.

The CFL’s harsh proposal is a de facto “one more strike and you’re out” agreement. Predictably, Kelly’s representatives objected to this imposition, citing a violation of collective bargaining rights.

As a result, Kelly and the CFL are at an impasse. The Toronto Argonauts, who set a CFL record with 16 regular-season wins last year, are currently 5-4 without their superstar quarterback. The Boatmen are currently off of games but will return to practice on Sunday as they prepare to host Saskatchewan next weekend.

The latest incident raises serious doubts as to whether Kelly will return to the team then or at all.

Kelly, 30, a former Ole Miss star, signed a three-year, $1.865 million contract extension with the Argos last year, becoming the CFL’s highest-paid player. After convincing his critics with a standout performance in Toronto’s 2022 Grey Cup victory, Kelly put together an All-Star season, throwing for 4,123 yards and 23 touchdowns.

What was once one of the best stories of redemption in professional football has taken a turn for the worse. The question is, will Chad Kelly get another chance to redeem himself?

You can find Mike Mitchell on X @ByMikeMitchell.

Find out more about CFL on SI.com To on facebook. And X.