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It seems that the long streak of quarterback disasters in the CFL is finally coming to an end and this should make for an exciting second half of the season.

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At least three other teams, possibly four, are expected to have their top player return as a starter this week, most of them due to injuries, one due to a gaping, self-inflicted wound that may never fully heal.

That would be Chad Kelly of the Toronto Argonauts, who has made a career out of making mistakes and who now has his last chance on this side of the border.

Argos coach Ryan Dinwiddie has named Kelly his starting player for Thursday’s game against Saskatchewan after the 30-year-old was suspended for half a season for repeated sexual harassment of a strength coach.

When Kelly answered questions on Tuesday for the first time since his suspension, he apologized, which at times seemed rehearsed, but at other times seemed sincere. But it’s hard to get over what he said the first time about the allegations: that nothing happened.

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“You realize that this person obviously deserves all the respect, regardless of gender,” he said Tuesday, adding that he had “learned a lot.”

“I know what is right and what is wrong. I’m just trying to be a better role model. I stand by everything that happened here.”

The problem is that Kelly spent at least as much time talking about the impact the suspension had on him as he did about the impact the harassment must have had on the woman who complained and lost her job as a result.

“I went above and beyond what was asked of me because I wanted to do it right,” he said. “I want to make sure everyone believes I will never do something like that again.”

“You can believe me or not… I think I’m authentic and genuine. I want to do better and I’m going to be better and I’m going to show everyone.”

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He will be given this opportunity under what the league called a “last chance agreement” on Sunday, which includes binding and confidential requirements that Kelly “comply with league standards.”

The return of the reigning Most Outstanding Player to the team he led to a 16-2 record last season represents the most dramatic change at the pivot position, but not the only one.

In Ottawa, former Blue Bomber Dru Brown is ready to get back in the saddle for the 6-2-1 Redblacks, who host BC on Saturday, after missing a start due to injury.

Cody Fajardo is also expected to return to the starting spot for Montreal, which hosts Edmonton on Sunday.

Fajardo went under about six weeks ago, but the mighty Als have not only survived, but are atop the CFL at 9-1.

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There is even hope that Canadian Tre Ford will return for the 3-7 Elks this week after a rib injury.

All this happened just a week after Trevor Harris came off the injured list to lead struggling Saskatchewan, which was winless in its last four games, and Nathan Rourke returned from the NFL to rejoin struggling BC.

Despite all the injuries, the uncertainty about the quarterback in Hamilton and the mediocrity in Calgary, the Bombers with Zach Collaros at the helm were a model of continuity, if not consistency.

However, the 12-year veteran has chosen a good time to pick up the pace.

After a win over the Lions that included 23 of 31 passing for 288 yards, which also included some classic Collaros long passes, the Winnipeg pivot looks like someone whose receiver team is getting healthier, whose offensive line is playing better and who is leading a unit that is slowly coming together.

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“We’ve got a lot of young players and some moving parts, and it’s looking like we’d like it to,” I heard head coach Mike O’Shea tell his weekly audience on the CJOB Coach’s Show on Monday. “I like how it’s coming together now.”

We keep our fingers crossed for Bighill

The Bombers cannot afford another injury to a key player.

They hope they dodged one when middle linebacker Adam Bighill went down in BC

It’s too early to tell – they didn’t practice on Monday and Tuesday – but the team is confident Bighill will be able to play when the 4-6 Bombers host the 2-8 Tiger-Cats on Friday.

Under his leadership, Winnipeg’s defense became the best in the league overall and by far the best in passing.

This bodes well for the final phase, as all of the top quarterbacks are back in action.

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With four wins from their last six games, the Bombers are suddenly back in the West Division playoff picture and will play their annual back-to-back rematches against the Riders starting next week.

Tickets for Winnipeg-Hamilton on Friday have exceeded the 30,000 mark.

ELITE COMPANIES

O’Shea became the fifth-fastest head coach to win his 100th game over the weekend, reaching the milestone in his 168th game in charge.

The coaches who did it faster: Wally Buono (134 games), John Hufnagel (142), Bud Grant and Don Matthews (158 each).

This is not bad company.

O’Shea needs two more wins to match Grant’s franchise record in Winnipeg and potentially provide some background music at the upcoming Banjo Bowl on Sept. 7.

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