Argonauts, Lions could put on air show as top quarterbacks face off

Field Level Media|published: Thu 25th September, 15:22 2025

Jun 6, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) throws a pass during the first half against the Montreal Alouettes at Percival-Molson stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Nick Arbuckle will be under center on Friday when the Toronto Argonauts visit Nathan Rourke and the BC Lions in Vancouver.

Toronto saw its three-game winning streak come to a halt last week as Arbuckle sat out his team's 21-19 loss to the Montreal Alouettes due to a calf injury. He returned to practice on Tuesday and took approximately 60 percent of the reps in practice for the Argonauts (5-9).

The team announced Thursday that he will be the starter on Friday.

Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie had given backup quarterback Jarret Doege plenty of reps this week -- just in case.

"You know, Jarret still got about 40 percent of it but I was shocked Nick was moving around as good as he was," Dinwiddie said.

Arbuckle's 4,089 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns are second in the CFL to only Hamilton's Bo Levi Mitchell (4,194, 28). Third in both categories is Rourke, who has thrown for 3,935 yards and 22 TDs for the Lions (7-7).

Arbuckle and Rourke put on quite the display in Toronto's 52-34 victory over B.C. on Aug. 23. Arbuckle threw for a career-high 430 yards with three touchdowns and rushed for another score, while Rourke passed for 326 yards and two TDs.

Rourke put up gaudy numbers in his last outing.

The 27-year-old from Victoria rushed for three touchdowns and threw for two more in the Lions' 52-23 romp over the Calgary Stampeders. His 331 passing yards allowed him to surpass Russ Jackson's total of 3,641 in 1969 for the most by a Canadian passer in a single season.

"Russ Jackson is a legend in this league, and any time you're even brought up in the same conversation as him, I think it's an honor," Rourke said.

Keon Hatcher Sr. has recorded career-high totals in catches (79) and receiving yards (league-leading 1,317) this season to go along with five touchdowns. He had seven receptions for 131 yards in the previous encounter with Toronto.

CFL rushing leader James Butler sat out the game versus the Stampeders with a thigh injury. He turned in limited practice sessions throughout this week, however, and is available for Friday's contest.

--Field Level Media

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