CFL Training Camp Notebook

It has all the ingredients of an awkward partnership. But, so far, the Edmonton Elks’ quarterbacking tandem of McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Tre Ford are doing and saying all the right things.

Ford emerged as one of the most exciting players in the CFL last year. His scrambles and scampers made more than a few highlight reels through the year. And, by the end of the 2023 season, the Niagara Falls, Ont. product looked to have the inside track to be the Elks’ starting quarterback going into 2024.

But, in the off-season, Elks coach and general manager Chris Jones turned heads when he inked veteran Bethel-Thompson. The former Toronto Argonauts pivot had spent a season in the USFL with the New Orleans Breakers and wanted to come back to Canada. 

In 2022, he led the Argos to the Grey Cup and topped the CFLwith 4,731 passing yards.

So, as training camp opened in Edmonton this week, Bethel-Thompson was at the top of the depth chart, while Ford slid in as No. 2. But, through the first days of practice, Jones has decided to use a “double-barrelled” approach on the offensive sets, meaning both quarterbacks get the same amount of reps.

Bethel-Thompson said that the chance to work with Ford was one of the reasons he decided to sign with the Green and Gold.

“I don’t notice any awkwardness,” said Bethel-Thompson Tuesday at Commonwealth Stadium after the Elks completed their first session with the pads on. “I love working with Tre, I love his potential, and he’s a huge reason why I’ve come here, right? You can see what he represents and why it’s important to have great Canadian talent in this league. 

“I love the opportunity to play my best and help take this team someplace, and also give everything I possibly can to Tre.”

The Elks finished 4-14 last season, but were 4-6 with Ford as a starter. The Canadian quarterback threw for 2,069 and added 622 yards rushing — a whopping 9.4-yard average per carry. But Jones said there are areas where Ford needs to improve, such as getting the ball out of his hands more quickly and not always relying on his legs to get him out of trouble. 

Quarterback Chad Kelly isn’t on the Toronto Argonauts’ suspended list but remains away from the CFL team.

The Argos announced early Wednesday they’d placed Kelly on the suspended list but a club official later issued a revision, adding Kelly is still not participating in team activities and isn’t present at its facilities.

Last week, the CFL suspended Kelly from Toronto’s two exhibition games and at least its first nine regular-season games for violating its gender-based violence policy.

The suspension followed an independent investigation commissioned by the league into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against Kelly for sexual harassment and the club for wrongful dismissal.

Kelly was on the field Thursday for the Argos’ rookie camp but the club announced Sunday on the first day of training camp that Kelly wouldn’t be participating in team activities.

Canadian Josh Hagerty was seven players released Wednesday by Toronto. Hagerty, 25, was entering his fourth season with the Argos after being selected in the sixth round, No. 47 overall, of the 2021 CFL draft out of the University of Saskatchewan.

The six-foot-three, 200-pound Regina native helped the Huskies win the Vanier Cup in 2018 and was a member of the Argos’ Grey Cup-winning squad in 2022.

Canadian defensive back Daniel Valente was also released. The Argos also let go of defensive backs Latavious Brini and Jordan Jones, defensive lineman Tyler Williams and receivers Zach Peterson and Rajae Johnson, all Americans.

American running back Deandre Torrey was placed on the suspended list while Canadian defensive back Jamie Harry was moved to the one-game injured list.

CFL players will have the option of wearing protective soft-shell helmet covers known as Guardian caps during games this season but mouthguards will be mandatory.

The two measures were among a host of health-and-safety initiatives announced by the league Wednesday.

The CFL mandated the use of Guardian caps last year during training camp and all contact practices during the regular season. Their use was required by all offensive and defensive linemen, running backs and linebackers — and Wednesday that was expanded to also include defensive backs and receivers.

Players wishing to use the caps during games will be permitted, following a directive set forth last month by the NFL. According to the CFL, the introduction of Guardian caps and other measures led to a 42 per cent decrease in training camp concussions. But there will be no such choice regarding the use of mouthguards, which are now mandatory. That makes the CFLthe first pro sports league in North America to do so.

Violations won’t result in penalties being called during games. Instead, they’ll be deemed as dress-code offences by the league afterwards and subject to fines.

CFL teams will also be permitted to use GPS tracking technology throughout 2024 (training camp, regular season and playoffs). The devices register real-time data on player movements — including speed, G-force, location, acceleration and deceleration — and assist with injury prevention, load management and rehabilitation monitoring.

The league will conduct professional development meetings with strength-and-conditioning staff and add a new injury spotter to its command centre this season. It will also aim to provide additional camera angles and video technology for the role.

(Canadian Press)