Toronto Argonauts quarterback Dalton Bell hands-off to running back Chad Kackert during the second half of their CFL pre-season football game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Toronto June 18, 2011.MIKE CASSESE/Reuters
Dalton Bell has a groin strain that may keep him from making his final run for the Toronto Argonauts starting quarterback job this week.
Neck and neck for the job with Cleo Lemon as training camp wraps up, Bell sat out several drills Tuesday due to a nagging groin pain that may keep him from playing in the Argos' final preseason game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday.
In that case, Lemon would get the start.
"If Cleo goes out and plays well, it's Cleo's job, and it has to be," head coach and general manager Jim Barker said. "If he doesn't play well, I know what Dalton has done. I'm very happy with where Cleo is at. He's done nothing to lose this job. He's gone out and was given a challenge, and he's answered the call. He's much quicker, he understands what we're doing, and he's running this football team."
Bell's injury will be re-evaluated on Wednesday to see if he should play on Thursday and make his final case for the job. If he can't play, Barker will opt to have him rehab in Toronto rather than travel to Winnipeg.
"He's crushed, he wants to compete to be the starting quarterback," said Barker, "but to put him in there and take a risk of losing him when we already have Stephen [Jyles]out, it doesn't bode well."
Canadian quarterback Danny Brannagan is having issues with his wrist and is not throwing. So that just leaves a fully healthy B.J. Hall. The Argos are deciding whether to put Jyles on the nine-game injury list to start the season.
Lemon started the first preseason game last Saturday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and played most of the first half. He was 11 of 15 for 130 yards and one touchdown. Bell had similar numbers in the second half, going nine of 15 for 189 yards and one touchdown.
Several veterans may sit out Thursday's exhibition if they are still having soreness: offensive linemen Rob Murphy and Chris Van Zeyl, and receivers Jeremaine Copeland and Chad Owens.
Friday is cut-down day in the CFL, when teams set their 46-man rosters.