Edmonton @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 14, 2017 ) Toronto 27, Edmonton 30

The Toronto Argonauts begin life without Ricky Ray when they host the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday. Ray suffered a serious neck injury in the 41-7 loss to Calgary in Week 2 and is expected to miss the remainder of the season, thrusting James Franklin - who spent the previous three seasons in Edmonton - into his first start for the Argonauts as the club hopes to avoid going 0-3 for the first time since 2001.

"It's definitely exciting, but it's also tough because I've had injuries before and I feel bad for Ricky having this taken away from him," Franklin told reporters. "It's difficult, but I'm excited to get out there and play and help our team get its first win." The Eskimos bounced back from a 38-21 setback against Hamilton by downing BC 41-22 in Week 3. Edmonton erased a 12-point deficit en route to its fourth consecutive win against the Lions and hopes to stay within striking distance of unbeaten Calgary by avenging a 34-26 loss to the Argonauts at BMO Field last season. "I think that speaks for the character in this room, just having pure believe in each other,' Edmonton linebacker J.T. Sherritt told reporters. "We don't panic as we know how the CFL works."

TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (2-1): C.J. Gable was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after rushing for 165 yards and a touchdown in the win against BC. Mike Reilly threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns versus the Lions to move past Dave Dickenson (22,913) for 23rd place on the CFL's all-time passing list. D'haquille 'Duke' Williams, who was named one of the league's Top Performers of the Month for June, continued his scorching start to the season as he hauled in six passes for 129 yards and a touchdown to take his season total to a league-leading 308 receiving yards.

ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (0-2): Toronto acquired edge rusher Eric Striker, who was named an AP Second-Team All American with the Oklahoma Sooners in 2015, from Saskatchewan in exchange for the rights to ex-Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson. The Argonauts released linebacker Khalil Bass, who appeared in two games after joining the club in November 2017, on Tuesday. Wide receiver Brian Tyms also was let go after Toronto signed Myles White, who spent four years bouncing around the NFL with various teams, to the practice squad.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Eskimos have won four of their last five regular-season meetings with the Argonauts.

2. Toronto is averaging a league-low 13 points per game.

3. Reilly leads the league with 10 total touchdowns.

PREDICTION: Eskimos 27, Argonauts 21