Mike Reilly is not the only quarterback in Alberta who can play hurt.
Stampeders gunslinger Bo Levi Mitchell is not operating anywhere near peak health level, yet he continues to perform.
It looked like Mitchell was hurt initially in the game against the Riders, but he stayed in and played through it all, guiding Calgary to a 27-10 victory in Week 5.
While preparing to face Hamilton in Week 6, Mitchell didn’t practice all week, but it was hard to tell as he completed 11 of 17 passes for 197 yards – more than the entire Ticats offence managed as a team through the air – and one touchdown in the first half at McMahon Stadium Saturday before giving way to Andrew Buckley and later Ricky Stanzi in the final 30 minutes.
Mitchell’s playing through some issues that are very serious and painful. Others might not be able to put up with it, but the Stampeders franchise pivot is toughing it out in a large way.
The 27-year-old is coming off a MOP season – voted unanimously – in which he joined legend Doug Flutie as the only Stamps quarterbacks to throw for over 5,000 yards (5,385 in 17 games) in a single season while leading the league with 32 touchdown passes. Mitchell’s on pace to surpass that yardage total in 2017 and part of that has been done while ailing.
Calgary plays in Toronto at BMO Field on Thursday and then enjoy a bye week, which will give the Grey Cup champion signal caller time to heal.
