Calgary Stampeders quarterback Kevin Glenn looks to make a pass in the third quarter of CFL pre-season football action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina, Sask., Thursday, June 20, 2013.The Canadian Press
The Calgary Stampeders quarterback situation feels familiar.
A year ago, starter Drew Tate didn't finish the second game of the regular season because of injury. Backup Kevin Glenn made his first start July 12 in Montreal.
Fast forward to now. Tate didn't finish Game 2 last week. Glenn will start Friday, again July 12, in Montreal against the Alouettes.
"For me to be coming out Week 3 against Montreal in Montreal, it's pretty much deja vu," Glenn said Wednesday.
The difference is Tate's injury is minor compared to the shoulder separation he suffered in 2012. Subsequent surgery and rehabilitation sidelined Tate until the final two games of the regular season.
His current injury is a strained forearm muscle in his throwing arm and his status is day-to-day. The 28-year-old did not throw the football in practice for a third straight day.
"It's just not ready," Tate said.
Glenn replaced Tate for the final minutes of last week's 36-21 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina.
Tate will dress for the game at Percival-Molson Stadium, but it will be Glenn behind centre. The 34-year-old filled in admirably during Tate's absences in 2012.
Glenn's record was 9-5 after Tate's shoulder injury. He compiled 4,220 yards in passing for 25 touchdowns and a completion rate of 66.7 per cent.
When Tate fractured his forearm in the West Division semifinal, Glenn helped Calgary win the division final versus the B.C. Lions with three touchdown passes and 303 throwing yards.
He went 14-for-27 and had no touchdown passes in Calgary's Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts. Glenn isn't as fleet of foot as Tate, but has shown he can get the job done.
"What he accomplished last year will add the confidence level to not only himself, but the players on the field," Stampeder head coach and John Hufnagel said.
With Tate unable to throw, Glenn took first-team reps in practice every day this week.
"It's still Week 3 for everybody in the league, even the first-string guys," Glenn said. "This isn't Week 9 or 10 when we've got a bunch of games under our belt."
"It's still a growing process, but for the most part, I know where guys are going to be, they know where they're going to be. It's going out and executing it."
What Glenn recalls of his start against the Als last year was a costly interception late in the game that led to Montreal's 33-32 comeback victory.
"A lot of times as a player, you remember the bad stuff," he said. "That kind of stuff brings back memories of 'I don't want to do this again.' The late interception, if I had to take anything back from that game it would have been that.
"I'm not the first or the last guy to throw an interception. You have to get over it, come back, this is a whole new season."
Calgary and Montreal are both 1-1.
The Als lost 19-11 to the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers last week. Quarterback Anthony Calvillo was sacked seven times in the game.
"You know that type of team, with the veterans they have on that team, they don't lose at home," Glenn said. "Those guys are going to be ready, especially with what they went through last week.
"We went through a similar thing that was on the road and not at home. We're going to have attitude too going out to Montreal."
CFL West all-star defensive back Keon Raymond is expected to make his season debut after sitting out the first two games with a sprained ankle.
Hufnagel said receiver Maurice Price (leg) was doubtful to play Friday. Offensive lineman Dan Federkeil (illness) was also questionable.
Defensive backs Derrius Brooks (leg) and Jamar Wall (knee) are out and defensive lineman Kevin Huntley is expected to start in place of Micah Johnson (torn oblique muscle).