MONTREAL — Chad Kelly had already spent close to 600 days anticipating his CFL comeback. Then he waited another week.

The Toronto Argonauts open their season Friday night against the Montreal Alouettes after beginning the 2026 campaign on a bye week. Kelly, the league’s outstanding player in 2023, hasn’t played since the 2024 East final and returns to a place where it all came crashing down.

The 32-year-old quarterback will step back onto Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, the same field where he suffered a gruesome leg injury on Nov. 9, 2024.

“I’m anxious to get out there and just play football again,” he told reporters in Toronto. “Get back to playing like my old self — manage the football game, take the shots when they’re there, and just try to lead our team to victory.”

The Alouettes’ game plan following such a long layoff? Make him uncomfortable early.

“He’s definitely a great quarterback, he definitely knows what he’s doing out there. But just for him coming back, I feel like there’s gonna be a little bit of rust, a little bit of webs on him,” star linebacker Tyrice Beverette said. “If we get after him early, hit him, give him different looks, never let him get comfortable, we can have some success there. Get some turnovers.”

The Alouettes forced two turnovers — including a momentum-shifting pick-six from Robert Kennedy III — in their thrilling 30-27 overtime victory against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to kick off the CFL season last week.

Montreal head coach Jason Maas, a former CFL quarterback, expects a motivated Kelly rather than a rusty one, not that the Alouettes won’t try to take advantage of his extended absence.

“I don’t look at it as rust,” Maas said. “He’ll be prepared, he’ll be ready. He’ll probably be anxious or excited (if) anything, and sometimes that plays to your benefit.”

“We want to hit him and that’s the one thing you don’t emulate all the time,” he added. “He played two weeks ago (in pre-season), so obviously he has been in there. But it’s going to be for a full game this time and we get more opportunities that way.”

Beyond Kelly’s return, Friday’s meeting also marks Mike Miller’s first game as the Argonauts’ head coach. The 56-year-old Miller, Toronto’s quarterbacks coach from 2022 to 2025, replaced longtime coach Ryan Dinwiddie after his surprise move to join the Ottawa Redblacks.

To get Miller his first win, the Argos will have to solve Davis Alexander, a quarterback who has never lost a CFL regular-season start.

“He’s so talented. He’s a great competitor,” Miller said. “He is a tough guy. He wears that on his sleeve. So a lot of respect for him.”

Alexander holds a perfect 12-0 record in the regular season, with his only CFL loss coming in last year’s Grey Cup against the Saskatchewan Roughriders while hampered by a hamstring injury.

“I don’t think our motivation really comes from that,” said Argos defensive back DaShaun Amos. “A lot of our motivation is going to come from within. We got Mike Miller’s first year as a head coach, this is our first opportunity to give him his first win as a head coach.

“For Davis, it’s one of those things that you respect. Numbers don’t lie.”

The Alouettes are shuffling in three new starters due to injury. Wide receiver Cole Spieker and Canadian centre Justin Lawrence have been placed on the six-game injury list with ankle ailments, while defensive back Najee Murray (foot) will miss at least one game.

Marco Dubois of LaSalle, Que., replaces Spieker at slot back, Cyrille Hogan-Saindon enters for Lawrence and Arthur Hamlin starts for Murray. Running back Travis Theis remains in the lineup after exiting last week’s win with a head injury.

On the other side, defensive lineman DeWayne Hendrix and wide receiver Jake Herslow are out. The Argonauts also signed receiver Kevin Mital of St. Hubert, Que., to a one-year contract extension through 2027 on Thursday.

Toronto welcomes back several members from its 2024 Grey Cup championship team, with Amos, defensive lineman Ralph Holley, linebacker Adarius Pickett and safety Robert Priester all returning as part of a revamped roster with Kelly under centre.

“I know the injury was pretty bad, but for him to work hard and get back on the field, whether it’s here or anywhere, that’s actually amazing,” Alouettes defensive back Kabion Ento said. “He’s another quarterback coming in here trying to beat us. As a defence, we’re just gonna try to stick together and defend with purpose.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2026.