ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
MISSISSAUGA – The Argonauts took to the practice field for the first time since their humbling 24-6 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos on Sunday and the quarterback situation heading into this week is no more clear than it was when they boarded a flight back to Toronto from Moncton.
“I can’t tell you what the situation is,” said head coach Jim Barker. “ Cleo could be fine tomorrow or he could not be fine tomorrow, but we will find out as the week goes on.”
Barker is referring to the health of starting quarterback Cleo Lemon who was knocked out of the game midway through the fourth quarter after taking a hit from veteran Eskimos linebacker Maurice Lloyd. With the effects of the hit still lingering, Lemon did not practice today and Dalton Bell took the majority of the first-team reps.
Lemon had a challenging outing to say the least prior to absorbing the Lloyd hit. He passed for a respectable 274 yards, completing 23 of 35 pass attempts but uncharacteristically threw four interceptions, three of which came as a result of a tipped pass.
Barker and his medical staff have been very cautious this year with regard to the health of their players, especially when it comes to head injuries. The most recent example is RB Cory Boyd who has sustained three concussions this season. Team doctors as well as coach Barker remain hesitant to rush him back.
“We don’t put a player in the game who has a concussion. There is a protocol that takes place – just like with Cory Boyd. It’s tough and I have stopped speculating because when a guy has a head injury I just move forward [keeping the player in question off of the field and awaiting the results].”
The protocol to which Barker is referring is the CFL’s concussion protocol guidelines. In summary, it states that a payer demonstrating any concussion symptoms will be removed from game and medically evaluated using a variety of generally approved/accepted tests. The team doctor can then use the results of the tests and his/her own analysis to clear the player to return to the field, or not. This protocol is followed closely by Argonauts medical staff and coaches.
Injuries aside, Barker is quick to point out who his number one pivot is assuming all four on his roster are healthy.
“If Cleo is 100% and he can go then he will. He is our starting quarterback,” Barker said.
The Argos will continue practicing this week in anticipation of their Saturday afternoon battle with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Although no exact timeline has been given on when Lemon will be cleared to play or ruled out of the contest, Barker mentioned that he hoped to have an idea by Thursday.