And starting at quarterback for your Ottawa RedBlacks…

The answer to who that person may be next year when the expansion RedBlacks take to the field could very well be influenced by what happened in Week Five of the Canadian Football League. The week, that stretches into Tuesday night at Rogers Centre where the Toronto Argonauts play host to the B.C. Lions, will be recalled for the opportunities given to backup quarterbacks to start.

Including the Argo game where Zach Collaros temporarily filled in for Ricky Ray, who has a minor knee injury, four of the eight CFL teams had either a backup or third-stringer starting.

In one game featuring Calgary against Winnipeg, both teams played without their starters. Winnipeg had Justin Goltz in place of Buck Pierce – who may or may not be injured, depending on whether you are to believe: the team, which insists he is hurt and the player, who claims he isn’t.

Meanwhile Calgary had third-stringer Bo Levi Mitchell. Mitchell replaced Kevin Glenn, who replaced projected starter Drew Tate. The plan for Tate to start went awry when he suffered an elbow injury in Week Two, while Glenn developed a forearm injury in Week Four. Mitchell played outstanding, showing poise and maturity.

Saskatchewan started Drew Willy, who saw some game action as a starter last year, while Darian Durant rested a wonky foot. Willy also impressed.

Edmonton played three all three of its quarterbacks – Mike Reilly, Jonathan Crompton and Kerry Joseph. As bizarre as its deployment of three quarterbacks looked to anyone who wasn’t privy to the Eskimos’ plan to give each of the trio some snaps, it at least gave Reilly an opportunity to prove himself when pulled. He nearly led the team to an incredible victory, which literally fell one yard short on the final play of the game. Reilly inherited the starting spot to begin the season only because Matt Nichols, who was going to battle him for the job, suffered a knee injury in the first pre-season game.

Collaros, playing in his second season with Toronto, has had limited reps, along with Trevor Harris, another young prospect the Argos are grooming.

In December, the RedBlacks will be able to select any one of the quarterbacks from the other eight teams that are not protected. Each team is allowed to protect one quarterback and the RedBlacks are only allowed to choose a maximum of two overall.

But who will general manager Marcel Desjardins choose?

So much can happen as this season unfolds, particularly if some of the young quarterbacks continue to excel. Both Willy and Mitchell would seem like the types of pivots that Desjardins would covet. Then again, there’s no telling which players might become free agents in February if they are not re-signed.

Calgary, which has a history of developing quarterbacks, will clearly have a difficult choice pending what happens with the remainder of this season and how Tate rebounds from his latest injury. Tate has been bothered by various ailments since becoming the starter last season. When healthy, he has shown the capability to start, but Mitchell certainly has the CFL abuzz over his debut. Glenn has shown over the course of his career he can start, so he is also somewhat of wild card in all of this. Ottawa could look to him for veteran insurance if he becomes available.

The Eskimos represent another team with interesting possibilities for Ottawa. Nicholls has had some starts, but has been unable to stay healthy. Reilly, who was acquired by the Eskimos in January from B.C., appeared to be frustrated by the decision to remove him fairly early in the Esks’ last game but bounced back strongly.

And then there is the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who have struggled out of the gate with a 1-4 record. Do they extend the contract of quarterback Henry Burris, who is playing out his option? As of now, the Ticats don’t really have anyone ready to replace Burris, who is the only starter in the league used in short-yardage situations. That has been an issue for the Ticats, who may alter their strategy going forward, if the frustrated remarks of GM/head coach Kent Austin are any indication.

In what has been a fairly disappointing start to the 2013 season due to several teams beginning poorly and some high-profile quarterbacks struggling because of performance or sidelined with injuries, the talk of who the RedBlacks may select has become an interesting sidebar. So far, some of the quarterbacks who weren’t even expected to play this season or receive much time have taken the opportunity to showcase their talents. Quarterbacking is the key to the CFL – notwithstanding the fact the running game has become a strong means of gaining yardage this season – and the RedBlacks just might be the beneficiary of a rather odd situation. Every time a backup quarterback receives starting playing time, it’s a free look for the RedBlacks.

If nothing else this season will give at least a glimpse of who may be starting at quarterback next season for the RedBlacks. Week Five in the CFL season just may have unveiled the starting quarterback of the Ottawa franchise. It just might be a player who may not have been on the immediate radar back in training camp.