Franchise quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell returned to practice with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Monday, though it remains unclear if he will start when his team takes on the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday.
“We’re not making any decisions right now,” head coach Orlondo Steinauer told the media. “We have a very structured plan as to the amount of reps, that sort of thing, how he feels, we’ll see that tomorrow. We don’t have any pressures to play, not play, we don’t have that set. What we have set is a rehab plan, a structured one and that’s also flexible.”
The veteran passer suffered an adductor injury in Week 2 during the club’s 32-14 loss to the Toronto Argonauts. He was replaced by Matthew Shiltz, who subsequently suffered a hip injury in Week 6, which led to rookie Taylor Powell making his first career start this past week in a 31-15 loss to the Argos.
The 33-year-old indicated that his availability for Friday will depend on how the injury feels throughout the week.
“I think the hope is to play but to be completely blunt and honest, I’m just going to test it out each day and be honest with [Steinauer] and say, ‘Hey man, if I feel good, I’m good’ and then at that point, now it’s up to him to make that decision,” said Mitchell.
“Taylor is going to prepare like he’s the guy, I’m going to prepare like I’m the guy and if it comes to a point where it’s like, ‘Hey, it’s gassed, it’s fatigued’ and I have to pull off, I pull off. But my hope is that everything responded great, I feel great, and I can play.”
Mitchell has completed 57.9 percent of his passes this season for 358 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. The injury to his adductor has held him out of four consecutive games.
Steinauer was complimentary of Mitchell’s performance in practice, though he reiterated that the veteran has been highly involved with the team despite missing a month due to injury.
“It’s like he never left, he just walks in the huddle and commands it,” said the fourth-year head coach. “Nothing’s really changed except for he’s in the huddle. He’s been around practice, it’s just from the side. He still comes to meetings and he does all those things, so not a lot’s changed that way.”
The native of Katy, Texas signed a three-year contract with the Ticats after the team acquired his rights in a trade with the Calgary Stampeders. He is scheduled to make $502,000 in hard money this year, making him the second-highest-paid quarterback in the league.
The Ticats (2-4) are scheduled to visit the Ottawa Redblacks (3-3) on Friday, July 28 with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. EDT.
