Chad Kelly returns as Toronto Argonauts swap four starters against Ottawa

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The Toronto Argonauts will have Chad Kelly back in the starting lineup when they visit the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday. The team issued its official depth chart on Thursday morning.

Kelly missed the club’s most recent game against the B.C. Lions due to an injury to his throwing hand, landing him on the one-game injured list. He was a full participant in practice this week and has retaken the starting role.

The 32-year-old native of Buffalo, N.Y. has gone 9-6 as a starter this season, helping them clinch a home playoff game. He has completed 70.9 percent of his passes for 5,067 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions over 15 starts.

In a corresponding move, rookie quarterback Paxton Delaurent has been placed back on the practice roster. The six-foot-five, 229-pound passer joined the team as a free agent earlier this year after throwing for 3,142 yards, 64 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions over 17 games with the Orlando Pirates of the Indoor Football League (IFL).

Cam Porter will start at running back after joining the Double Blue last month. The five-foot-ten, 215-pound ball-carrier played collegiately at Northwestern University, where he rushed for 1,908 yards, caught 63 passes for 425 yards, and scored 19 touchdowns over 45 games. The native of Cincinnati, Ohio missed most of the 2025 season due to injury. This will be his first professional game.

Sam Hicks, who started most of the season at running back for Toronto, has been moved to the one-game injured list with a foot injury.

Ali Fayad will start at defensive end in place of Da’Marcus Johnson, who is out with a back injury. The six-foot-two, 250-pound defender played four regular-season games with the Boatmen in 2022, when he recorded four defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, and one sack. He rejoined the team late last month.

Nic Toomer will start at field-side cornerback, a spot that’s been in flux since Tarvarus McFadden was placed on the six-game injured list in September.

Toomer attended training camp with Toronto earlier this year but didn’t make the final roster. The six-foot-two, 199-pound defender played collegiately at Stanford University and Indiana University, recording 55 total tackles, five pass deflections, one sack, and one interception over 35 games.

Jalen Bell has been added to the active roster in a depth role along the defensive line. The 24-year-old rookie has made three defensive tackles and one special teams tackle over seven regular-season games this year.

In corresponding moves, defensive lineman DeWayne Hendrix has been moved to the reserve roster, while defensive back Dathan Hickey have been placed on the practice roster.

These teams have met twice so far this season, with the Argonauts winning both matchups. The Double Blue won 44-24 in Ottawa in Week 3, and 26-23 in Toronto in Week 15.

The Toronto Argonauts (9-7) will visit the Ottawa Redblacks (0-16) on Friday, October 16 with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. The Argonauts are coming off a bye, while the Redblacks suffered yet another loss at the hands of the B.C. Lions.

The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on TSN 1050 in Toronto or TSN 1200 in Ottawa.

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