Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell will be a game-time decision for the Calgary Stampeders when they take on the Edmonton Elks this Saturday.
Mitchell was listed in the team’s final injury report as questionable with a foot injury, after being put on a pitch count in Thursday’s practice with what head coach Dave Dickenson described as routine soreness.
Those limitations were bad enough for the Stampeders to not fully commit to Mitchell as the starter, listing him a game-time decision on the team’s official depth chart. Should he be unable to go due to the ailment, promising young backup Jake Maier would take the reins against Edmonton.
The Stampeders are coming off an overtime victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, in which Mitchell led a furious comeback from 24-points down. The 32-year-old was triumphant post-game, believing he had finally silenced critics with his dazzling second half.
However, the two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player had a shaky first six quarters of the season and was pulled from the Stampeders’ season opener late in the game with an apparent ankle injury. Mitchell has struggled with injuries since 2019 and is coming off the worst season of his career, throwing for 2,594 yards, 10 touchdowns and a league-worst 13 interceptions in 2021.
The continued uncertainty around Mitchell’s health will only invigorate those who believe Maier is the better path forward at quarterback after a promising rookie season. The six-foot, 212-pound pivot completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 1,211 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions in three starts last year. He also carried the ball 16 times for 31 yards and two touchdowns and made one catch for six yards.
Maier came off the bench in Calgary’s season-opener to secure the victory, going 4-of-5 passing for 57 yards.
In other injury news, the Calgary Stampeders will be without the services of all-star cornerback Tre Roberson, who has been ruled out with a shoulder injury.
