Franklin steps in after Ray taken out of Argonauts’ 41-7 loss to Stampeders
TORONTO — Argonauts backup quarterback James Franklin was anxiously watching Ricky Ray as the veteran QB was strapped into a spinal board and carted off the field. He wasn’t just worried about Ray’s well being, but also wondered what to say to his teammates when he took over the play calling.
Ray was taken to hospital as a precaution after he was sandwiched between a pair of Calgary Stampeders defensive linemen in the Toronto Argonauts’ 41-7 loss on Saturday night in a disappointing rematch of last year’s Grey Cup.
“I was just watching, concerned for him,” said Franklin. “It’s hard to go into the huddle after that, especially for myself because I like to smile, get the guys talking or excited, but it’s difficult to do that after a situation like that.”
Ray had faked a handoff with 4:05 remaining in the third quarter when he was caught between Ja’Gared Davis and Cordarro Law. Play was stopped for more than 20 minutes as trainers and doctors attended to Ray, who had his neck immobilized before being put on a stretcher and sent to Toronto Western Hospital.