Toronto Argonauts quarterback Jarret Doege led the game-winning drive late in last week’s win over the Edmonton Elks. This week, the 27-year-old will make his first start with the Double Blue as the Argos battle the Montreal Alouettes on Friday night.
Doege has seen limited action this season playing behind starter Nick Arbuckle, but feels ready to be under centre Friday as Toronto (5-8) searches for a fourth-consecutive win.
“I’m just excited and really grateful to be with the Toronto Argonauts and get an opportunity to start,” Doege said on TSN Radio Friday morning. “I know it’s a big game, but every game we’ve played these past couple of weeks has basically been a playoff game for us. We’re treating every game from here on out like it’s a playoff game, and we’re just excited to go out and play.”
Friday will mark the second-career CFL start for Doege, who began his career with the Edmonton Elks in 2023. The Lubbock, Texas native was signed by the Argos prior to the start of the 2025 season and will now try to step in and replace the veteran Arbuckle, who is dealing with a calf injury.
“I’m hoping I can step in and just take over from where he left off. Just try to go in and execute the play that’s called. Trust my reads, trust what I’m seeing on the field, and everything else will take care of itself,” Doege said. “Once you find out both those guys [Arbuckle and Chad Kelly] aren’t going, it’s next man up and I’m next man up.”
The Argonauts have climbed back into playoff contention over the past month thanks to a three-game winning streak. The offence has been firing on all cylinders during that span, averaging 39.33 points per game while vaulting the team into third in the East Division.
Arbuckle leads the league with 4,089 passing yards, and Doege is confident in his ability to step in and maintain the torrid pace that he vaulted the Argos back into the playoff picture.
“We put a game plan together that’s pretty simple, that I can go out there and execute. I woke up feeling a little dangerous today, so I’m gonna go out there and sling it around,” said Doege. “I think our team is just as confident as ever. We’re one of the hottest teams in the CFL, and we’re going to act like it. I feel like no one can touch us right now, and we’re going to try to keep that mojo going.”
The Alouettes (6-7) sit second in the East and come into Friday’s matchup following a 48-31 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders last Saturday. The win snapped Montreal’s five-game losing streak.
TSN OverDrive will be broadcast LIVE on location from BMO Field from 4 - 6 p.m. ahead of tonight’s game. Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill, and Jamie McLennan will be joined by Luke Willson to tee up the night’s matchup.
