The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are handing the reins to second-year quarterback Taylor Powell after veteran starter Bo Levi Mitchell was pulled early in the first quarter of their Week 10 loss to the Montreal Alouettes.
“I would expect that, yeah,” head coach Scott Milanovich said in an unusually combative press conference following the 33-23 defeat, responding bluntly when asked what made him comfortable naming Powell the starter against Edmonton so early on.
“Because I just told you. I mean, I’ve been watching him for a year and a half and we can’t turn the ball over — bottom line.”
Mitchell lasted less than five minutes at the helm of the Ticats’ offence on Saturday night, going three-of-four for 25 yards and an interception. The 34-year-old was given the hook immediately after he was intercepted by linebacker Darnell Sankey on Hamilton’s second series and did not return. According to TSN’s Matthew Scianitti, he declined to be interviewed on camera following the game.
The 12-year pro has been enjoying a career renaissance in 2024, completing 214-of-314 passes for 2,533 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He led the CFL in both passing yards and touchdowns entering Week 10 but also topped the charts in picks. His ill-advised throw directly into the hands of Montreal’s middle backer was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“We talked all week about turnover margin and we turn it over on basically three of the first three possessions if you count the fumbled snap, which was a 12-yard gain if we execute the play,” Milanovich said of his team, referencing a fumble by fullback James Tuck, Mitchell’s interception, and an errant shotgun snap on Powell’s first play that resulted in a safety.
“I’ve never doubted their ability to fight and their want to and all those things, but it’s not okay. We’re going to get the right people on the bus, we’re going to do the right things. I told them that I don’t know when it’s going to turn but it’s going to turn and we’re going to have the right people in that building.”
The Ticats trailed by 15 by the time Powell got the chance to throw the ball but he showed what his head coach wanted. The 25-year-old went 30-of-38 for 319 yards and two touchdowns, adding five carries for 52 yards on the ground. It wasn’t enough to stage a comeback, as Hamilton fell to 2-7 on the season.
“I thought he did a good job. There were some things early — I don’t if he was a little nervous which is normal for a young quarterback,” Milanovich told the Ticats Radio Network. “He didn’t see a couple things early that he probably should have but he played hard, he protected the football, he escaped the pocket, created, and he gave us the spark we were looking for. I thought he did a nice job overall, for sure.”
Powell started nine games for the Tabbies in 2023 due to injuries to Mitchell and fellow quarterback Matthew Shiltz, going 4-5 at the helm. The Fayetteville, Ark. native completed 197-of-292 pass attempts (67.5 percent) for 2,283 yards with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing 28 times for 196 yards and one major as a rookie.
Though Powell was eventually demoted off the game-day roster at the end of the 2023 season, he was signed to a contract extension heading into this year and is viewed as the franchise’s quarterback of the future.
Mitchell disappointed in his first season in Steeltown, starting just six games due to an adductor injury and a fractured leg. He completed 59.1 percent of his passes for 1,031 yards with six touchdowns and ten interceptions, posting a 2-4 record.
Milanovich dodged questions about Mitchell’s future with the team during his introductory press conference this offseason and was more effusive in his praise of Powell, leading to speculation that the future Hall of Famer could be on the chopping block. However, the two-time Most Outstanding Player took a significant pay cut to remain in Southern Ontario and was handed back the starting gig in the hopes that he would have a late-career resurgence a la Anthony Calvillo.
While the early returns were positive, it is clear that patience has worn thin with Mitchell’s turnovers as losses mount. At the bottom of the East Division, Milanovich has no time for niceties.
“How do you think I’m feeling right now?” he snapped back at one reporter when asked to assess his emotions after the loss. “I think you know me well enough to know how I’m feeling.”
Powell will make his first start of the season when Hamilton hosts the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, August 17 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
