When Chad Kelly returned to the Toronto Argonauts after a long suspension, the CFL’s reigning Most Outstanding Player immediately took the reins of the first team’s offensive line in training.

However, it is the recent performance of another returning CFL superstar that has Argos coach Ryan Dinwiddie rethinking his plans for Kelly in his first game back next Thursday night at home against Saskatchewan.

Dinwiddie acknowledged Monday that Nathan Rourke’s struggles in his CFL comeback game for BC influenced his strategy with Kelly for Week 12.

Rourke, the 2022 Canadian Most Outstanding Player, showed clear rust in the Lions’ loss to Winnipeg despite extensive knowledge of BC’s offense and a full week of practice. In his first game after his foray into the NFL, he completed just 8 of 25 passes for 126 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

After Toronto’s second practice of the week, Dinwiddie told the media that he would not name a starter against Saskatchewan and hinted at the possibility of slowly easing Kelly into the lineup, which could lead to a two-quarterback rotation.

The revised training schedule on Tuesday will see the first team’s appearances split between Kelly, Cameron Dukes and Nick Arbuckle.

Except for a surprise appearance on the first day of camp, Kelly had been absent from team activities, missing 11 games, including nine during the regular season.

Without Kelly, Toronto ranks last in the CFL in passing yards per game (210), 50 yards behind eighth-place Winnipeg. The Argos are at or near the bottom in almost every passing category, most notably in fewest passes over 30 yards (5).

Toronto (5-4) currently sits in third place in the Eastern Division, behind Montreal (9-1) and Ottawa (6-2-1). The Boatmen will play six consecutive weeks before their final off week begins in Week 18.

You can find Mike Mitchell on X @ByMikeMitchell.

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