Arbuckle a bonafide CFL starter

By Lethbridge Herald on September 17, 2025.

Graham Kelly

Inside the CFL

If the Blue Jays fade away, there will be disappointment but also a comforting feeling that the universe is unfolding as it should. Same as the Maple leafs losing in the play-offs. Some sorrow, yes, but also a sense that there are some things in life you can depend on.

The Leafs have won 13 Stanley Cups, the last 58 years ago. The Jays have won the World Series twice, the last in 1993. Despite the years of futility, Leaf and Jays fans have endured, the teams are two of the most successul franchises in professional sports when it comes to attendance. The good folks of our biggest city break the doors down to get in and spend hundreds, nay, thousands of dollars at Rogers and Air Canada Centre.

Then there are the Argos. They have won 19 Grey Cups, more championships than the Leafs, Jays, Raptors and FC combined, the latest last November, their second title in three years. The reaction? Yawns. Indifference.

Although the Scullers have struggled this year, quarterback Nick Arbuckle is not to blame. Because he is perceived as a career back-up, he doesn’t get the respect he deserves. Nobody mentions his name when considering who should be the league’s Most Outstanding Player or the all-star quarterback.

When the 2023 MOP Chad Kelly was suspended nine games for sexual harassment, Coach Ryan Dinwiddie turned to rookie Cameron Dukes rather than the much-travelled Arbuckle. When Kelly returned to action, he broke his leg in the Eastern Final. Sensibly the coach turned to the hard luck Arbuckle who against all odds led the team to a Grey Cup championship while being named the game MVP. With Kelly still on the mend this June, Arbuckle continued to fulfill his dream of starting after bouncing around the league since 2018

Last Saturday against Edmonton, with the outcome still in doubt, he was pulled for the final two drives with a calf injury that limited his mobility. Chad Kelly indicated through social media he is ready to go. Coach Ryan Dinwiddie said he won’t be pressured to bring Kelly back before he’s ready. But that should be beside the point. It is hard to believe Kelly can play any better than Nick has. Considering Kelly is the highest paid player($624,200) in the league, the Argo front office wants him back as soon as possible for no other reason but to boost attendance. But yanking the rug out from under the gallant understudy will cost the team fans. And, hey, we’re talking about Toronto here. Even Tom Brady coming out of retirement to lead the Double Blue wouldn’t attract more paying customers. As the late Yogi Berra once said, “If people don’t want to come out to the ball park, nobody’s going to stop them.”

Arbuckle will be sidelined for at least two weeks. Kelly remains on the Six-Game injury list. Third man Jaret Doege will play tomorrow in Montreal, postponing a long term decision. When both Kelly and Arbuckle are ready, I believe it would be terribly unfair to bench Arrbuckle and give the job back to Kelly who has spent months recovering from a broken leg.

How does he compare with his former Calgary teammate Bo Levi Mitchell?

The knock on Nick would be Toronto’s losing record(5-8). They may not make the playoffs. But in 2024, Hamilton finished dead last(7-11) and Bo was the CFL All-Star quarterback. For Mitchell and Arbuckle, the 2024-25 are mirror images of each other.

Hamilton is in first place with a record 8-5. Bo is second in pass completions and yardage. The Argos are 5-8 in third in the East. Toronto leads the league in points and has surrendered the most points. Arbuckle is first in completions and yardage. Because of a lousy defence, he’s always playing from behind. The Argos are last on the ground. The big difference between the two is Mitchell has thrown only seven interceptions Nick 14. Bo has 26 TD passes, Arbuckle one less.

Prior to this year, he started 23 times, the longest stint seven games replacing Mitchell. At the time I asked him what was most important as a starter. “You’ve got to be able to win the close games in the end.”

He’s done that. He’s the real deal, a bonafide starter.