With Zach Collaros still not ready to return for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Jeremiah Masoli has won first crack at replacing the QB and will start Week 1 against the Toronto Argonauts.

Head coach Kent Austin confirmed Masoli will start in Week 1 on Sunday.

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Collaros tore the ACL in his right knee in a game against the Edmonton Eskimos in September and missed the final seven games of the regular season as well as the East Division semis and the East Division final in the postseason.

After Collaros went down, backup pivot Jeff Mathews took over and went 2-3 before Masoli got his opportunity. He appeared in six regular-season contests, completing 11 of 21 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown.

Masoli went 12-for-18 for 141 yards and a touchdown, and ran for another 58 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries to lead the Ticats over the Toronto Argonauts in the East semi. He nearly carried the team over the Ottawa Redblacks in the East final, going 30-for-42 with 349 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-28 loss.

Collaros may have a return date now however, with TSN's Matthew Scianitti reporting the team and QB have committed to a nine-month recovery process. It's now been eight months since Collaros's injury.

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